the creatures or abusing them to bâ—… the instruments of sinne Duties in our lives 1. Holy meditation and mentioning of the works of God to his glory and our spirituall good To his glory for so must we meditate and speak of the creatures as that the wisdome goodnesse and power of God shining in them be acknowledged that we knowing him by his works may glorifie him as God To our good by meditating in such things as are to be followed or eschewed in them 2. The pure and holy use of the creature sâ—…nctified by the word and prayer c. Otherwise if we knowing God by â—…is works shall not glorifie him Rom. 1. 21. if we shall play the Momes in detrâ—…cting from the works of God or mocking the same if we shall abuse his creatures to superstitious wicked and profâ—…ne uses and please our selves in so doing we are to take heed lest in making this prayer we be found mockers of God Now follow the works of administration which are his blessings or judgements towards our selves or others His blessings on our selves are sanctified 1. in our hearts when we are truly thankfull for them 2. in our tongues when we give thanks Psal. 124. 6. and shew forth his benefits Psal. 66. 16. and 71. 8 18. 3. in our deeds when we referre the good things received to his glory and the good of others and when by them we are brought to repentance Rom. 2. 4. The blessings of God on others are sanctified when we rejoyce with them 1. Cor. 12. 26. and glorifie God in them Psal. 35. 27. Gal. 1. 24. The judgements of God on our selves are sanctified when they have the like effect in us that they had in Job that is First when we are humbled under the hand of God and brought to repentance Job 1. 20. and 42. 6. Secondly when we bear them patiently Job 1. 21. Thirdly when we blesse God in them and for them v. 21. The judgements of God on others are sanctified when by consideration thereof we fear to sinne when we shew forth the justice of God in the punishment of the wicked Psal. 58. 11 12. when we condole with the just Wants to be lamented First unthankfulnesse in that neither in our hearts we have the chearfull sense of Gods goodnesse in his benefits nor in our tongues return praise to him nor in our deeds bring forth the fruits nor yet by them are brought to repentance Secondly our not acknowledging Gods graces in others or depraving or lessening them or envying their good Thirdly our senselesnesse in affliction Jer. 5. 3. Fourthly impatiencâ—… Isai. 22. 12 13. Fifthly murmuring Sixthly not to be terrified by the example of others but rather pleasing our selves Luke 13. 1. Seventhly not condoling but rather rejoycing in other mens evils as laughing at fools Duties in our lives To be thankfull to God for his benefits To expresse our thankfulnesse by thanksgiving by referring them to the glory of God by repentance To rejoyce with others To glorifie God in them To make right use of his chastisements on our selves and others Otherwise if we shall be proud of those good things which we have as though we had not received them not giving God the glory nor referring them to his glory and the good of others but contrariwise abusing them to the dishonour of God and the hurt of others as many do their learning wit riches strength c. If we shall deprave Gods mercies in others or envie them If in the judgements of God upon our selves we shall harden our hearts with Pharaoh If we shall impatiently bear them and murmure against the severity of God If with Belteshazzar we shall not be moved with the example of others Dâ—…n 5. 22. If we shall make a sport of 〈◊〉 mens calamities we are farre from that desire of sanctifying Gods name which in this prayer we pretend Secondly in these words we pray that the Lord would sanctifie his name The which petition we are the rather to make because his glory is so little regarded amongst men And in this sense our prayer is the same with that of our Saviour John 12. 28. Father glorifie thy name or with that of David Psal. 57. 6 11. Be thou exalted Lord above the heavens and thy glory above all the earth or that Psal. 115. 1. Not unto us O Lord not unto us c. The Lord doth sanctifie his name I. When he doth shew forth and manifest the excellencie and glory of his name that is of his attributes and perfections as wisdome power c. but especially by making manifest the glory of his mercy and justice Of mercy by preserving his Church and multiplying his blessings upon the faithfull Ezech. 36. 21. For the glory of his own name he preserved his Church amongst the heathen and promised to reduce them into their own countrey not for their sakes but his holy names sake v. 22. and then v. 23. I will sanctifie my great name which was polluted amongst the heathen namely because of the affliction of his people v. 20. and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord saith the Lord God when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes c. So 2. Thess. 1. 12. Of his justice and power in executing his judgements on transgressours and on the wicked and overthrowing the enemies of his Church When Nadab and Abihu had offered strange fire contrary to the commandment of God and were destroyed by fire from heaven he said I will be sanctified in them that come near me that is By executing judgement even against those that are near to me I will make manifest the glory of my justice and before all the people will I be glorified Levit. 10. 3. Isai. 5. 15 16. By the judgements of God executed upon the wicked it is said that man shall be humbled and brought low but the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgement and the holy God shall be sanctified in justice Ezech. 28. 22. Thus saith the Lord God Behold I come against thee Sidon and I will be glorified in the midst of thee and they shall know that I am the Lorâ—… when I shall have executed judgements in her and shall be sanctified in her For I will send into her pesâ—…ilence c. And chap. 38. 22 23. he threatneth to rain fire and brimstone upon Gog and Magog that is both the open and secret enemies of the Church c. Thus saith he will I be magnified and sanctified and known in the eyes of many nations and they shall know that I am the Lord. II. God doth sanctifie and glorifie his name when he doth removâ—… the impediments of his glory as idolatry worshipping of false gods superstition ignorance and giveth a free passage to his Gospel when he taketh away the wicked Psal. 104. 35. III. By freeing it from the abuses pollutions of men and mainteining his own glory When Moses and Aaron at
the waters of Strife did not sanctifie the Lord by believing and acknowledging his omnipotent power then the Lord did sanctifie his name himself Num. 20. 12 13. Lev. 22. 32. Neither shall ye pollute my holy name but I will be hallowed amongst the people of Israel So when Herod would not give the glory to God the Lord glorified himself in his destruction In the second place therefore we pray in zeal of Gods glory That howsoever men pollute and profane his holy name yet he would glorifie it and manifest the praise both of his mercy in blessing and preserving his Church and also of his justice in executing his judgements upon the wicked and enemies of his Church by removing the impediments by freeing it from the pollution of men and mainteining his glory Duties 1. Zeal of his glory that he may sanctifie it whatsoever become of me 2. Fear to profane his name seeing he will be sanctified c. V. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thy kingdome come What Gods kingdome is THe first petition conteined the main scope of all our desires This and the next contein the way and means whereby that end is to be atchieved for then is God glorified when his kingdome is advanced and his will is performed The meaning of the words Thy kingdome come We must know that there are two kingdomes in the world ruling in the minds and hearts of men the one of darknesse the other of light the one of Satan the other of God Col. 1. 13. unto the one of which every man in the world is subject The kingdome of Satan and darknesse is whereby the children of disobedience being blindfolded and bewitched of the devil go on and continue in ignorance and sinne to their own perdition The prince of this kingdome is Satan the prince of the air Ephes. 2. 2. and God of this world 2. Cor. 4. 4. John 12. 31. The subjects are all men by nature untill they be brought out of this kingdome of Satan into the kingdome of God and then is the kingdome of God said to come to them But in this subjection do none finally remain but the reprobate who are the children of disobedience in whom Satan worketh effectually Ephes. 2. 2. and blindeth their minds that the light of the glorious gospel of the kingdome of God shine not unto them 2. Cor. 4. 4. and carrieth them away captive to the obedience of his will 2. Tim. 2. 26. The law of this kingdome whereby he ruleth is sinne Hujus regni 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The law of this kingdome is to be without law This sin reigneth in the mortall bodies of men mâ—…king them give up their members to be instruments of sinne unto iniquity Rom. 6. 12 13. untill it please God to let his kingdome come upon them ruling them by his word and spirit The end of this kingdome is endlesse perdition 2. Thess. 1. 9. and against this kingdome are we taught to pray in this place c. The other is the kingdome of God And this is either universall or speciall The universall is that whereby the Lord ruleth over all things even over his enemies whereunto all things are subject and from which subjection nothing can exempt it self This of Divines is called regnum potentiae the kingdome of power whereof the holy Ghost speaketh Psal. 99. 1 2. and 145. 13. and in the clause of this prayer For thine is the kingdome But most plainly Psal. 103. 19. The Lord hath established his throne in heaven and his kingdome is over all This kingdome nothing can resist nothing can hinder no not although all creatures should band themselves together against it The speciall kingdome of God is that whereby he ruleth not over all men in generall but onely over the Church that is the company of the elect And as there be two parts of the Church the one militant upon the earth the other triumphant in heaven so are there two parts of Gods kingdome the first of grace the Church militant the second of glory the Church triumphant The former is the blessed estate of Christians in whom he reigneth in this life for it doth not consist in meat and drink or in any temporall or worldly thing but it is righteousnes that is assurance oâ—… justification and peace of conscience arising from thence Rom. 5. 1. and joy in the holy Ghost a consequent of both the other Rom. 14. 17. The latter is the glorious and blessed estate of the faithfull after this life where they shall have the fruition of God in whose presence there is fulnesse of joy c. Of these two the former is the way to the latter therefore whosoever would be an inheritour of the kingdome of glory in heaven must first be a subject of God in the kingdome of grace in this life Luke 22. 30. and therefore out of the Church there is no salvation And on the other side whosoever is a true subject of God in the kingdome of grace shall be an heir of glory in heaven and therefore to them that be true members of the Church there is no condemnation And this David teacheth us Psal. 15. 1. Who shall sojourn c. both parts of that question concerning one and the same man The kingdome of grace is that government whereby the Lord doth effectually rule in our hearts by his word and Spirit working in us his own good work of grace and making us fellow-citizens and meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints and of the houshold of God Ephes. 2. 19. Saints in light Col. 1. 12. In this kingdome the Prince is the Lord who exerciseth this kingdome by his Sonne Psal. 96. 10. and 97. 1. and 110. 1. The people are the Church which is therefore called the kingdome of heaven Matth. 5. 19. and the particular subjects are all true Christians The sceptre of this kingdome is the word of God Psal. 110. which is also the law whereby he reigneth and is therefore called the word of the kingdome Matth. 13. 19. the gospel of the kingdome of God Mark 1. 14. The preaching of which word and gospel is also called the kingdome of heaven Matth. 13. 11. and 22. 2 c. Where by the way we may note that where the word of God and gospel of the kingdome is truly preached there is the kingdome consequently the Church of God and therefore that may be also verified of us which our Saviour Christ speaketh of the Jews that the kingdome of God is amongst us Luke 17. 21. This preaching of the word is also called the arm of God Isa. 53. 1. whereby he pulleth men out of darknesse into light and out of the power of Satan unto God Acts 26. 18. But especially the Lord ruleth in our hearts by his Spirit drawing us unto his Sonne bending and bowing us to the obedience of his word inlightening our minds and sanctifying our hearts and leading us
THE DOCTRINE OF Practicall Praying TOGETHER With a Learned Exposition ON THE LORDS PRAYER By the Right Reverend Father in God George Downam late L d Bishop of Derry in Ireland Pray without ceasing c. 1 Thes. 5. 17. After this manner therefore pray ye Our Father c. Mat. 69. LONDON Printed by W. H. for Nicolas Bourne at the South entrance of the Royall Exchange 1656. To the Christian Reader THere is no duty more excellent in it self or profitable to us then that of Prayer Wherein we have sweet communion with God and free accesse to the throne of grace laying open to a gracious Father all our wants and grievances in hope and confidence to have our suits granted our sinnes pardoned our necessities supplyed and our griefs removed and relieved It is that hand and key which helpeth to unlock and open the treasury of all Gods graces for the enriching of our souls with all his blessings the horsmen and chariots of the Israel of God whereby they get victorie over all their enemies yea they prevail with God whē he seemeth to oppose against them as an enemie and to wrestle with them that he may foil and overthrow them as he did with Jacob. In all which and innumerable other respects as it is to be esteemed the chiefest exercise of a godly and Christian life which can never be too much practiced as the Apostle implyeth where he injoyneth us to pray continually and in all things to give thanks so can it never be sufficiently insisted upon in the doctrine of it whereby we are pressed perswaded to the frequent exercise of it and taught to perform it in a right and acceptable manner In which regard though much already hath been excellently spoken and written upon this subject yet let no man think it superfluous to have more published of this argument seeing that can never be too much taught which is never sufficiently learned and loved The ensuing Treatises were the labours of that learned judicious and godly Divine D. Downame late Bishop of Dery in the Realm of Ireland my most dear brother which were penned with his own hand for his private use but for the publick service of that part of Gods Church over which he was a painfull and faithfull Pastour conteining the summe of many of his sermons which he preached on this argument The which if he had been pleased to have polished and perfected with his own learned hand no doubt much would have been added to their lustre and beautie Yet seeing this was not done according to his better abilities I thought it a dammage to Gods people that they should lose the substance for the want of some circumstance and have no use of a well-compacted bodie fit to do God and his Church good service because it was not decked with gay ornaments And therefore I have presented it to the view of the world and indeavoured to perform the dutie of a brother to him that is deceased though not to raise this spirituall seed to him for it was of his own begetting and composing yet to give unto it birth and being in the world without which it would have proved abortive and so have been buried in perpetuall oblivion The which service I have the more willingly undertaken for the benefit of all that will take pains to peruse this work because I am now disabled by age and many infirmities to produce any further labours of mine own in this kind wherein I have not been wanting in my more able and mature times according to the proportion of my small talent which my great Lord and Master hath entrusted me with Herein imitating the example of the weaker sex who after they have been fruitfull in bearing children themselves and now being come to older age are disabled to have any more conceptions do some of them become midwives who are helpfull to those who are young and fruitfull for the bringing of their children into the world The Lord whose onely blessing maketh all our indeavours profitable by giving efficacie unto them by the inward operation of his holy Spirit blesse these and all other labours of his servants that they may bring forth plentifull fruits for the advancement of his glory and the benefit of all his children who are willing to make use of them to these ends Thine in the Lord Jesus to do thee any Christian service JOHN DOVVNAME ¶ The contents of the Chapters of the first part of this Treatise viz. The Doctrine of Prayer together with the chief points therein handled Chap. 1. OF the definition of Prayer and of the persons who are to pray Pag. 1 Of the name of Invocation and Prayer 2 Of the generall nature of prayer 3 Of the proper nature of prayer 4 What is required in invocation acceptable to God 5 Who ought to pray 6 7 c. 2. Reasons moving to the dutie of prayer 8 9 c. 3. Other motives to the dutie of prayer 11 4. Three questions cleared 14 Whether prayer be efficacious to obtein our desires 15 That prayer is necessary notwithstanding Gods decree 16 17 c. 5. Of the great and wonderfull efficacy of prayer 21 6. Whether by prayer we alwayes obtein our desires 26 7. Of the profit of prayer 29 8. A threefold necessity of prayer 32 9. Who are to perform the duty of prayer 33 10. None but the faithfull can pray effectually and acceptably 37 That the impenitent cannot pray acceptably 39 In what respect God heareth the wicked 47 11. That God alone is to be called upon 51 12. That we ought not to invocate any creature 58 That Angels and Saints are not to be invocated 59 That Saints departed are not to be invocated 61 Chap. 13 That we must conceive of God in prayer as he hath revealed himself in his word 64 Whether Christ as Mediatour is to be invocated 66 14. That Christ alone is the Mediatour of intercession as well as of redemption 68 15. That we must pray onely in the name of Christ 77 16. Of the manner how we are to call upon God 80 That we must pray with upright hearts 82 c. That we must not pray with feigned lips and wandring thoughts 83 84 c. 17. Of knowledge required necessarily in prayer 89 That prayer ought to be made in a known tongue 92 18. Of Faith which is required in prayer 101 19. Of Humilitie required in prayer 106 Faith and Humility must be joyned in prayer 110 20. Of Reverence required in prayer and Heartinesse 113 21. Of the Gesture to be used in prayer 116 22. Of the Voyce to be used in prayer 125 Of Battologie in prayer 129 Of the quantitie and qualitie of our prayers 133 23. Whether a set form of prayer may be used 135 What we are to think of extempor all prayer 137 Of conceived prayers and set forms 139 24. Of things required out of the action of prayer 141 Of Preparation unto prayer 142 Of duties
precept as being a dutie most straitly injoyned and a principall part of that worship and service which we ow unto God This necessitie is not absolute but if we will avoid his curse Jer. 10. 25. 2. Necessitate medii necessitie of the means as being the means ordained by God for the obteining of all good things which he hath either purposed or promised to bestow upon us for our good so that if we ask aright we have if we ask not we have not as S. James saith chap. 4. 3. Necessitate signi necessitie of the signe as being a necessarie signe and cognizance of all true Christians who are described in the Scripture to be such as call upon the name of God As contrariwise the foolish Atheist who saith in his heart There is no God is deciphered by this note that he doth not call upon the Lord Psal. 14. 4. In which respects the holy man Daniel held the performance of this dutie so necessary that when the king had published a decree which might not be revoked That whosoever should ask a petition of either God or man save of the king for thirtie dayes he should be cast into the lions den he chose rather to be cast into the den of the lions then to omit this dutie but thirty dayes Dan. 6. neither did he omit it one day see vers 10. CHAP. IX Who are to perform the dutie of prayer ANd thus you have heard that it is required of all to call upon God Now let us consider what is required in all those that do call upon him That I expressed in the definition when I defined prayer to be a speech of the faithfull or as the holy Ghost styleth them also the righteous the godly the Saints of God Where by the way note that all faithfull and true Christians are righteous are godly are the Saints of God And thus are they to be qualified who will either pray unto God or praise him For prayer the holy Ghost saith that every one that is godly shall pray unto God Psal. 32. 6. and the prayer of a righteous man availeth much Jam. 1. 16. For praise and thanksgiving unto God be glory in the Church saith the Apostle Ephes. 3. 21. that is in the company of the faithfull And so David Sing unto the Lord O ye Saints of his give thanks at the remembrance of his holinesse Psal. 30. 4. It is true that all the works of God do praise him as the matter of his praise but the Saints do blesse him as the instruments of his praise Psal. 145. 10. For both see Psal. 50. 14 15 16. where the Lord as he commandeth the faithfull to whom his speech is directed v. 5 7. to offer unto him thanksgiving and to call upon him in the day of trouble so he taketh exception against the wicked But unto the wicked God saith What hast thou to do to declare my statutes or that thou shouldst take my covenant in thy mouth seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee But here we are carefully to consider who are the godly and righteous lest we exclude from hope of being heard those whom the holy Ghost doth not exclude There is therefore a twofold righteousnesse mentioned in the Scriptures the one Legall the other Evangelicall According to the legall righteousnesse none can be said to be righteous who doth not perfectly and perpetually perform whatsâ—…ever the law which is the Divine rule of perfect righteousnesse doth prescribe For if a man do not abstein from all things forbidden if he do not also the things commanded if he do not all and that in that manner and measure which the law prescribeth if he do not continue in doing all the things required but breaketh the course of his obedience by any one sinne though but of omission though but in thought he is notwithstanding all his obedience by the sentence of the law not onely a sinner but also accursed Gal. 3. 10. By this righteousnesse no man since the fall of Adam could be said to be righteous Christ onely excepted but we had all need to pray with David Psal. 143. 2. Enter not into judgement with thy servant O Lord for in thy sight shall no flesh living be justified viz. by the works of the law Gal. 3. 16. For there is not a just man upon the earth that doth good and sinneth not Eccles 7. 20. Yea in many things we offend all saith S. James chap. 3. 2. And if we say we have no sinne saith S. John 1. epist. 1. 8. we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us Wherefore the law concludeth all under sinne and consequently under the curse Gal. 3. 22. So that there is no man so godly and righteous but in himself by the sentence of the law he is a sinner Which serveth notably to confute the Popish hypocrites which teach that none are justified but such as are formally just by a righteousnesse inherent in and performed by themselues that is habituall and actuall according to the law of God and that no man who is a sinner in himself by reason of sinne inherent can be said to be justified But whatsoever Pope-holy men do conceive of themselves we must confesse with the forenamed Apostles that we are sinners in our selves and had need daily to pray as our Saviour taught them for the forgivenesse of our sinnes and so to appeal from the sentence of the Law to the promise of the Gospel for the law hath concluded all under sinne that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe Gal. 3. 22. The Evangelicall righteousnesse is that which without the Law is revealed in the Gospel whereby men that are sinfull in themselves I mean believing sinners and penitent sinners are accepted of God as righteous in Christ. And it is twofold For it is either imputed to a believing sinner as the righteousnesse of justification or infused and so inherent in a repentant sinner as the righteousnesse of sanctification The former is perfect and not inherent being the righteousnesse of Christ apprehended by faith The other is inherent but not perfect being our new obedience wrought in us by the spirit of regeneration In respect of the former it is said that the righteous man shall live by his faith In respect of the latâ—…er that he is a righteous man which worketh righteousnesse And this twofold righteousnesse must of necessitie concurre in the same partie c. By the doctrine thereforâ—… of the Gospel he is a righteous a godly man a Saint of God who doth believe and repent And this is to be understood not onely of those who are indued with perfect faith and repentance or the higher degrees thereof but even of the lowest degrees of true faith and unfeignâ—…d repentance So that whosoever truly assenting in â—…is judgement to the promises of the Gospel concerning salvation by Christ doth earnestly in his heart desire
Pro. 21. 13. Whereas contrariwise those that be mercifull shall find mercy with God Matth. 5. 7. Then shalt thou call and the Lord shall answer thou shalt cry and he will say Here I am Isa. 58. 9. If we love not in word and tongue alone but in deed and truth hereby we may have confidence before God 1. John 3. 18 19. Secondly to Want of love in forgiving offenses and contrariwise Mark 11. 25. When ye stand praying forgive if ye have ought against any that your Father also which is in heavâ—…n may forgive you your trespasses But if â—…e do not forgive 〈◊〉 will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses Thirdly to the Not-hearing or hearkening to the word of God For as we heare so we shall be heâ—…rd Prov. 28. 9. He that turneth 〈◊〉 his care from 〈◊〉 the law his prayer shall be abominable For as we speak unto the Lord in prayer so the Lord speaketh unto us in the preaching of the word and therefore good reason it is that if we will not heare the Lord when he speaketh unto us he should not heare us when we speak unto him as the Prophet Zacharie saith chap. 7. 13. It is come to passe that as he cried and they would not heare so they cryed and I would not heare saith the Lord. On the other side If the word of Christ abide in us we may ask what we will and it shall be granted us John 15. 7. If men harden their hearts against the word of God the wisdome of God hath threatned not to heare them Prov. 1. 24. He covereth himself with a cloud that our prayer should not passe through Lam. 3. 44. But if men humble themselves before God and tremble at his word being of humble and contrite hearts the Lord hath promised to heare Psal. 66. 2. and 34. 18. and 51. 17. The prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds Ecclus 35. 17. If men choose not the fear of the Lord the Lord will not heare them Prov. 1. 28 29. on the other side He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he will also heare their cry anâ—… will save them Psal. 145. 19. Neither doth the Lord refuse to heare those alone who are open and notorious sinners but those also which making outward profession of pietie do play the hypocrites Job 27. 9. Will God heare the cry of the hypâ—…crite when trouble cometh upon him To which purpose there is a notable saying of David Psal. 66. 18. If I regard wickednesse in my heart saith he the Lord will not heâ—…re mâ—… Whereas contrariwise if men would walk uprightly before God he would deniâ—… uâ—…to them nothing that is good Psal. 84. 11. Wherefore it behoveth every one that nameth the name of Christ to depart from iniquitie 2. Tim. 2. 19. and to purge his hands from sinne Jam 4. 8. and to wash them in innocencie Psal. 26. that so he may without doubting lift up holy hands unto the Lord 1. Tim. 2. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Tim. 2. 22. Heb. 10. 22. with true hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience Mala conscientia januam nobis claudit An evil conscience shutteth the gate against us Calv. Institut 3. 20. 7. § But against this doctrine it may be objected That the Lord many times heareth the wicked when they call upon him and therefore that the promises made to prayer are not peculiar to the godly but common to them with the wicked For answer hereunto we are to remember That prayers are made unto God either for spirituall blessings belonging to a better life or for temporall blessings apperteining to this corporall life The former are peculiar to the children of God as belonging to their inheritance and are never bestowed on the wicked who never have so much grace as truly to desire them and therefore if they do at any time ask them they do pray in hypocrisie asking with their lips that which they do not desire with their hearts nor labour for in their lives As for temporall benefits I cannot deny but that the Lord many times in respect of them doth grant unto the wicked their hearts desire But yet even in these also there is great difference betwixt the Lord his hearing of the godly and the wicked For in temporall matters the Lord heareth men either as a gracious and loving Father or as a mercifull Creatour or as a severe Judge 1. In speciall favour as a gracious Father in Christ he heareth his faithfull children ever subordinating their good to his own glory not alwayes satisfying their carnall or worldly desires but alwayes granting their requests as shall be most for his glory and their spirituall and everlasting good under which conditions our prayers for temporall blessings ought alwayes to be framed and being so conceived they are ever granted 2. As a mercifull Creatour the Lord heareth men crying unto him in their extremity And thus he heareth all sorts of men but especially the godly for he is the saviour that is the preserver of all men but chiefly of the faithfull 1. Tim. 4. 10. The godly have a promise of deliverance when they call upon God Psal. 50. 14 15. and 145. 19. and 91. 15. and 34. 17 19. So have not the wicked Psal. 51. 16. and 18. 41. Yea in many places as ye have heard he threatneth that when they cry unto him in their trouble he will not heare them The affliction and deliverance of the godly do both turn to their singular good Rom. 8. 28. and being delivered they glorifie God consulting with themselves what to render unto the Lord for his benefits and tâ—…king the cup of salvation that is of thanksgiving for their salvation and deliverance Psal. 116. 12 13. The wicked not being bettered by their affliction are many times delivered according to their desire the Lord giving them over as incorrigible Isa. 1. 5. Jer. 2. 30. and when they are delivered they seek not to glorifie God nor repent of their sinnes but return to their vomit making shew of repentance no longer then the hand of God is upon them And so both their affliction and deliverance through their own default turneth to their ruine Notwithstanding deliverance out of affliction when men cry unto God is a common benefit the Lord hearing and delivering men of all sorts as a mercifull Creatour and Preserver as is testified Psal. 107. where it is often repeated that divers sorts of men when thâ—…y cry unto the Lord in their trouble he doth deliver them out of their distresse But because many are unthankfull the holy Ghost doth as oft repeat this exclamation O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodnesse and declare the wonders which he doth for the sonnes of men For though the Lord doth hate the wicked in respect of their sinnes and therefore many times doth refuse to heare and to deliver them yet he loveth them as his creatures and
we are thus to pray in faith appeareth both by testimonies reasons Rom. 10. 14. How shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed Heb. 11. 6. Without faith it is imposible to please God For as Bernard saith How shall he please God whom God doth not please for he that believeth not maketh God a liar 1. God is to be worshipped with a willing â—…ind and chearfull heart 1. Chron. 28. 9. which cannot be done in prayer unlesse we be perswaded that our prayers are accepted of God 2. There is no accesse unto God but by Christ John 14. 6. nor to Christ but by faith To come unto God Heb. 11. 6. and unto Christ is to believe in him John 6. 35. Through Christ we have boldnesse and entrance with confidence but it is by faith in him 3. What benefit we reap by Christ we receive by faith For which cause the same benefits which we have by Christ are ascribed to faith And therefore as without Christ we can do nothing John 15. 5. nothing belonging to a spirituall life which may be acceptable to God so without faith we can do nothing and much lesse pray as we ought For without faith we are without Christ and by faith we are ingrafted into him I believed and therefore I spake that is with faith I called upon God Psal. 116. 10. 4. It is the prayer of faith which is available and acceptable Jam. 5. 15 16. 5. The promises made to prayer are to be understood with the condition of faith Matth. 21. 22. If ye believe Which may be understood of this more generall faith or the speciall This is hard to be performed by a sinfull man c. impossible to be performed by a Papist without speciall revelation For he cometh in his own worthinesse yet knoweth not whether he be worthy or not Qualis â—…rit ista oratio O Domine ego quidem an exaudire me velis dubius sum sed quia anxâ—…etate premor ad te confugio si dignus sum mihâ—… succurras What a kind of prayer is this O Lord I am doubtfull whether thou wilt heare me or no But because I am pressed with anxietie I flie unto thee and if I be worthy help me Vide Calv. Instit. 3. 20. 12. But we know that in our selves we are unworthy and yet believe that in Christ we are accepted Our faith is grounded not on our own worthinesse in our selves but on the love and promises of God and on the merits and intercession of Christ. For though we be sinners in our selves yet believing in Christ God the Father justifieth us Though we know not how to pray or what to ask as of our selves yet God the Spirit maketh intercession for us in helping our infirmities and teaching us to pray according to God And though our praiers be unperfect and unworthy to be offered to God yet Christ our Saviour sitteth at the right hand of his Father making intercession for us Rom. 8. 26 27 33 34. and perfuming the incense that is the prayers of the faithfull with the odours of his own sacrifice Revel 8. 3. CHAP. XIX Of Humility required in prayer HItherto we have spoken of the mind Now we are to enquire what is required in the heart In the heart three things are requisite humilitie reverence and heartinesse The first respecting our selves the second God the third the things for which we do invocate For the first That properly is said to be humile which is even with the ground Where therefore it is required that we should humble our selves before the Lord when we call upon him it is meant that we should abase our selves as it were to the ground to which purpose the faithfull were wont in the Eastern Churches to cast themselves down to the ground when they called upon God laying aside all manner of conceit of our own worthinesse whereby we might be lifted up in our selves and acknowledging our own nullitie and unworthinesse in our selves to appear in the presence of God For compared unto God we are as nothing or as lesse then nothing Isa. 40. 17. And therefore when our Saviour took upon him our nature he is said as it were to have annihilated himself Phil. 2. 7. For this cause prayer in Hebrew is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which hath affinitie with the verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which fignifieth to fall or cast down our sâ—…lves To teach us to humble our selves before God when we call upon him And to the same purpose Augustine defineth prayer thus Oratio est mentis devotio i. conversio in Deum per pium humilem affectum Prayer is the devotion of the mind that is a conversion unto God by an holy and humble affection How necessary and profitable this is to be indued with humility when we call upon God may appear both by the testimonies of Gods word and examples of the godly Psal. 10. 17. Lord thou hearest the prayer of the humble thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt â—…ause thâ—…ne care to hâ—…are Psal. 7. 12. He forgetteth not the cry of the humble Luke 18. 9. our Saviour telleth us a parable of a Pharisee and a Publicane which went to pray The Pharisee cometh in a conceit of his own worthinesse the Publicane in conscience of his sinfulnesse The Pharisee in a brave manner thanketh God that he was not a sinner like other men the Publicane in most humble manner acknowledgeth himself to be a sinner and craveth pardon for his sin But what was the issue of their prayer Which speedeth better the humble sinner or the proud justitiarie The Publicane goeth home justified the Pharisee remaineth in his sin according to that John 9. 41. And the reason is because as our Saviour saith every one that exalteth himself shall be brought low and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted To this accordeth Psal. 138. 6. The Lord is high yet he beholdeth the lowly but the proud he knoweth a farre off Psal. 51. 17. The sacrifices of the Lord that is that which he esteemeth above all sacrifices are a contrite spirit a broken and contrite heart he will not despise meaning that he doth in speciall manner regard it Esa. 66. 2. To him will I look even to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit Psal. 34. 18. The Lord is near to them that are of a broken heart and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth â—…ternity whose name is holy I dwell in the high and holy places with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of them that be contrite Esa. 57. 15. Ecclus 35. 17. The prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds and will not depart till the most High shall behold to execute judgement c. But to speak more particularly Humility
hath the promise both of temporall benefits Prov. 22. 4. The reward of humility is riches glory and life and spirituall Prov. 3. 34. grace Prov. 11. 4. wisdome Prov. 22. 4. the fear of God and finally blessednesse Matth. 5. 3. And therefore let us follow the counsel of James chap. 4. 10. to cast down our selves before the Lord and he will lift us up and of Peter 1. epist. 5. 6. to deck our selves inwardly with lowlinesse of mind for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble In the examples also of the godly we may observe that the most holy men have most abased themselves when they have come into Gods presence Abraham the father of the faithfull making request to God in behalf of the Sodomites acknowledgeth himself to be but dust and ashes Gen. 18. 27. Jacob who was called Israel because by his wresting in prayer he prevailed with God confesseth himself lesse then the least of Gods mercies Gen. 32. 10. David a man according to Gods own heart in the humility of his soul desireth the Lord not to enter into judgement with him c. Psal. 143. 2. And 2. Sam. 6. 22. he professeth that he would be vile before the Lord. Isaiah the prophet at whose prayer the sunne went back being admitted into the presence of God crieth out that he was a man of polluted lips Daniel a man greatly beloved humbly acknowledgeth his sinnes and refuseth to come in his own worthinesse Dan. 9. 18. and likewise Ezra chap. 9. 6. The Centurion of whom our Saviour testifieth that he had not found the like faith in Israel Matth. 8. 8. professeth himself to be unworthy that Christ should come under his roof The woman of Syrophenicia to whom our Saviour gave testimonie that great was her faith confesseth her self to be but as a dog in comparison of the Israelites Mat. 15. 27. The repenting prodigall received to favour confesseth himself unworthy to be called a son Luke 15. 21. The Publicane who went home justified shewed great signes of humilitie Let us therefore avoiding the proud conceit of all Pharisaical Popish justitiaries who are not afraid to present themselves before God trusting in their own merits follow the advice of Paul Rom. 12. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as some expound it to go the same way with the humble so we shall come to the same end of the way which is the salvation of our souls the which unlesse we be humble even as children we cannot attein But he that is humble as a child shall be the greatest in the kingdome of heaven Matth. 14. 3 4. Now these two graces whereof I have last spoken faith and humilitie must necessarily go together For we must not be so humblâ—…d in regard of our unworthinesse in our selves but that notwithstanding we are to trust in Gods mercy accepting of us in Christ we are so to have affiance in the mercies of God merits of Christ that we disclaim all worthines in our selves Here therefore they offend 1. Who come to God in a Pharisaicall conceit of their own worthinesse for which they presume to be heard If it be obiected that the faithfull sometimes alledge their own pietie in their prayers as an argument to obtein their desires as David Psal. 86. 2. Hezekiah Isa. 58. 3. I answer 1. They alledge their own pietie as a gift of God and testimonie of his favour to confirm their faitâ—… not ascribing it to their own desert but to the favour grace of God by which they do confesse that they are what they are 1. Cor. 15. 10. For it is the nature of true faith to strip him where it is of all praise that all glory may be given unto God Psal. 115. 1. Non dignitatem suam sed dignationem Divinam allegant They alledge not their own dignitie but Gods acceptance 2. Because the promises of hearing our prayers are restrained to the godly they alledge their piety as a testimonie to their own souls that the promise belongeth to them 1. John 3. 22. Non hoc dico quin accâ—…a gratia siduciam donet orandi Sed non oportet ut in 〈◊〉 constituat quisquam fiduciam impetr andi Hoc solum conferunt haec promissa dona ut ab cadem misericordia quae tribuit haec sperentur etiam ampliora that is I do not say this because grace received doth give confidence in praying For none ought in it to place their trust of obteining But these gifts promised do onely conferre this that of that mercy which giveth these things we may also hope for greater More particularly for Davids prayer Preserve my soul for I am 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one on whom thou hast shewed great mercie save thy servant that trusteth in thee For Gods promise is not to fail them that put their trust in him For Hezekiah The Lord had promised David That his sonnes if they walked before him in uprightnesse should not want a sonne to succeed them in the crown Whereas therefore the prophet Isaiah brought this message to Hezekiah being sick that he should die having yet no issue he desireth the Lord to remember that he had walked uprightly before him and therefore intreateth the Lord that according to his promise he might not die without a sonne to succeed him and so obteined the lengthening of his dayes for fifteen yeares in which time God granted him a sonne to succeed him 2. Those that pray ambitiously to be seen and praised of men for such hypocrites have their reward Matth. 6. 5. Nisi humilitas omnia quaecunque bene fecimus praecesserit comitetur consecuta fuerit praeposita quam intueamur apposita cui adhaereamus imposita quâ reprimamur jam nobis de aliâ—…uo bono facto gaudentibus totum extorquet è manu superbia Vitia quippe caetera in peccatis superbia verò etiam in rectè factis timenda est nè illa quae laudabiliter facta sunt ipsius laudis cupiditate amittantur Unlesse humilitie do precede accompanie and follow all whatsoever we have well done and be preposed that we may behold it and apposed that we may adhere unto it and imposed that thereby we may be repressed pride will wring out of our hand all we have done whilest we rejoyce of our doing any good deed For other vices are to be feared in our sinfull actions but pride onely is to be feared in our good deeds lest those things which are laudably done be lost by our greedie coveting of praise 3. Those that pray with spirituall pride and ostentation as the Brownists being proud that they are able to conceive as it were ex tempore a prayer unto God and with such varietie as to use no set form nor twice to use the same words 4. Those that by their prayer look to satisfie for their sinnes and to merit at the hands of God as the Papists For
prayer made with such a proud conceit is abominable unto God CHAP. XX. Of Reverence required in prayer and Heartinesse THe second thing required in the heart is a reverence of the Majesty of God to whom we speak according to Davids both advice Psal. 2. 11. Serve the Lord with reverence and rejoyce with trembling and practice Psal. 5. 7. I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercie that is trusting therein and in â—…he fear or reverence of thee will I worship towards thy holy temple That we are thus to call upon God I shall not need to prove For if when we are to speak to a Prince we are touched with great reverence of an earthly Majestie how are we to be affected when we speak unto God And if the blessed angels being in Gods presence and sounding forth his prayse are described in the Scriptures as having six wings whereof two pair serve to cover their face their feet Isa. 6. 2 3. thereby betokening their wonderfull reverence of God how much more should we who inhabit these houses of clay subject to infirmities and corrupted with sinne be strucken with an awfull reverence of God If therefore we did but seriously consider That we are to speak vnto God and did set him before our eyes who is in Majestie most glorious and therefore to be reverenced for power omnipotent and therefore to be feared Luke 12. for greatnesse or infinitenesse rather in every place and therefore present with us to heare what we say and to behold what we do for knowledge omniscient and a searcher of the heart and therefore throughly acquainted with what disposition and affection we do come before him for holinesse and justice a most pure Spirit and therefore will be worshiped in spirit truth finally who is as Malachi speaketh our Father and therefore to be reverenced our Lord and therefore to be feared chap. 1. 6. If I say we did set him before our eyes and our selves in his presence as we ought alwayes to do but especially when we call upon him it cannot be but that we shall be touched with great reverence of his glorious Majestie and therefore shall behave our selves accordingly doing speaking thinking nothing but that which may become his presence and whereof we may be bold to admit him to be the hearer and the judge all light behaviour all wandring thoughts being far removed and abandoned and we for the time being elevated above all earthly cogitations and having our conversation in heaven supposing as Chrysostome saith our selves to be in the midst of the Angels and performing the like exercise with them You see our duty But what is our practice Do no we vile wretches when we present our selves before the Lord behave our selves many times with lesse reverence or regard then if we were speaking to a mortall man that is our supeâ—…iour Insomuch that we hold it for good advice as indeed it is respecting our weaknes In such sort to speak to men as if God did heare us so to speak to God as if man did heare us And is not this an evidence that we are caâ—…nall that our hearts are affected with no more then our senses apprehend and that we want those eyes of faith which Moses had Heb. 11. 27. whereby we might be moved to behave our selves in the presence of God as seeing him that is invisible Now to move us both to humilitie and reverence let us consider as Solomon adviseth Eccles 5. 1 2. that God to whom we speak is in the heaven full of majestie and power which consideration our Saviour also teacheth us to have in the beginning of our prayer Matth. 6. 9. and we which do speak are on the earth base and vile not onely in respect of our mould being but dust and ashes but especially in respect of our sinnes whereby we have made our selves unworthy to appear in his presence And unto both these we are excited Psal. 95. which is prefixed as a preparative to our Liturgie v. 6. Come let us worship and fall down let us kneel before the Lord our maker For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hands The third thing is heartinesse devotion or ardour of the mind when we are throughly affected with those things whereof we speak calling upon God with our whole hearts For if that be good counsel which the wise Solomon giveth That what we do we do it with all our might Eccles 9. 10. it is especially to be followed in prayer wherein we are not to be cold or carelessâ—… This heartinesse in prayer is servencie or earnestnesse of desire in thanksgiving alacritie and chearfulnesse the former arising from the sense of our want the latter from the sense and experience of Gods goodnesse towards us And it is that which giveth wings to our prayers and causeth them to ascend before God This is called liâ—…ting up our prayer Isai. 37. 4. Jer. 7. 16. Here therefore two things are to be avoided The first is coldnesse when men call upon God without sense either of their wants in prayer or of Gods blessings in thanksgiving calling upon God for fashion or custome sake usu magâ—…s quà m sensu orantes praying rather out of use then sense Such a prayer wanting lively affections is dead and therefore counterfeit and hypocriticall and a mere bodily worship For this is to call upon God with our mouthes but not with our hearts this is to pray without desire and to give thanks without grace in our hearts The other is taedium in orando wearinesse in praying That is when mens hearts being set on other matters all time that is bestowed in prayer is thought too long and therefore the prayer as it is unwillingly begun so is it wearisomely performed the end of the prayer many times being more desired then the end for which prayer was ordained But our invocation must be as a free-will-offering and our service of God must be performed with a willing mind neither is that to be accounted a service of the soul which is without either the understanding as I said before or the will CHAP. XXI Of the Gesture to be used in prayer HItherto we have spoken of those things which in the action of Invocation are required in the soul. Now we are to speak of those things which are required in the body For though bodily exercise being severed from the inward worship is little worth yet being joyned with the inward it is of some moment For where the Lord commandeth any duty or forbiddeth any sinne there also he commandeth or forbiddeth the signes and appearances thereof and therefore where he requireth the inward worship of the soul in prayer as honorem facti the honour of the deed there also he requireth the outward of the body when it may be conveniently exercised as honorâ—…m signi the honour of the signe Now our bodies and members
our Liturgie calling them shreds and wishing that in one continued prayer all our requests should be joyned notwithstanding the wisdome of those learned and godly men who out of the most ancient Liturgies compiled ours is to be commended who considering that our long continued prayer would to the greatest sort seem tedious and breed distraction and wandring thoughts have set forth many short prayers to avoid wearisomenesse and to keep the mind of the people attentive CHAP XXIII Of the qualitie of our speech in our prayer and of the form which is to be used AS touching the quality of our speech As we need not to be curious in respect of the style because God looketh to the uprightnesse of the heart rather then the elegancie of the speech so must we not be more carelesse negligent for the manner of speech then we would be if we were to speak to any mortall man And because we are but too carnall let us make use of Malachi's rule chap. 1. 8. Offer it to thy Prince that is Let us examine our selves whether we be as carefull to speak unto the Lord as we would be unto a Prince and herein also let us shew that reverence which we ow unto the Lord. The godly in the Scriptures have been very exquisite and accurate in those prayers and Psalmes which are recorded in the Scriptures Concerning the form it may be demanded Whether we may use a set form of prayer for that is denied by our Separatists insomuch that they hold it unlawfull to pray in that set form which Christ himself hath prescribed But they are plainly confuted by the words of our Saviour Luke 11. 2. When ye pray say Our Father c. unlesse they will persist in their contradiction against Christ himself forbidding us when we pray to say Our Father Besides that prayer of Christ there are other set forms in the Scriptures prescribed to be used in the Church of God The whole book of the Psalmes was penned and committed to Asaph and other musicians as is mentioned in divers of their titles to the end that they might be sung in the congregation More especially the ninety second Psalme was penned to be used on the Sabbath-day and the hundred and second Psalme is A prayer of or fâ—…r the afflicted when he is overwhelmed and poureth out his complaint before the Lord. But why may not a set form be used Because the faithful praying in the holy Ghost as Jude speaketh v. 20. must pray as they are moved by the Spirit and not as they are provided beforehand The assistance of the Spirit is seen not so much in helping our invention The gift of invention or conceiving a prayer is a gift of the Spirit but a common gift and not a proper grace of the sanctifying Spirit for a man of a present wit and good speech wanting the spirit of sanctification may do much that way especially if he be studied in Divinity as in these three 1. in rectifying our judgement teaching us to ask that which is good for us especially in time of affliction For we being led by sense know not what to ask but the Spirit helpeth our insirmities and teacheth us to pray according to God asking those things which tend to his glory and our good 2. His help is seen in inslaming our affections teaching us to pray with sighs and grones that cannot be expressed v. 26. And to the same purpose the Prophet Zacharie foretelleth that the faithfull by the spirit of grace and supplication shall be moved when they look upon him whom thâ—…y have pierced to mourn as one mourneth for his firsâ—…-born sonne Zech. 12. 10. 3. The spirit of Adoption crieth in our hearts Abba Father that is teacheth us to pray in faith and to call upon God as our Father in Christ Rom. 8. 15 16. Gal. 4. 6. Moreover where they say that they must pray as the Spirit moveth them they seem with the Enthusiasts to look for extraordinary inspirations and are in the number of those which tempt God for this conceit of theirs as well taketh away all meditation and preparation beforehand as set prayers But we are to follow the counsel of the Wise man Ecclus 18. 23. Before thou prayest prepare thy self and be not as one that tempteth the Lord. The promise made the faithfull that they should not need to study beforehand what they should speak but that they should speak as the Spirit should move them is to be understood of the extraordinary gift of Gods Spirit wherewith they were filled in inspiring them in their preachings apologies and prayers without their own study and industry Wherefore as in preaching to neglect study and to expect extraordinary inspiration of the Spirit that we may speak ex tempore as the Spirit moveth when a man is not upon some present exigent and necessity put to it is to tempt God so likewise in prayer And therefore we must not presume 〈◊〉 it be upon some present necessity to conceive a long prayer especially prayer ex tempore without some former study and meditation used either against the instant or in former times but we must come prepared either with some set form which notwithstanding with help of meditation we are to vary upon occasions or with such a form as we have conceived in our meditation that so we may with David call our prayer our meditation Neither do I doubt but that a good desire vow or promise made in prayer upon former deliberation is more accepted of God and is like to be more constant and may likewise be uttered with better fervency of affection and begged with more assurance of faith then that which is rashly uttered upon a sudden And therefore Salomon saith Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any word before God Eccles 5. 1. Neither do I condemn all that seem to pray ex tempore For as his faculty is to be commended that is so well studied in Divinity and exercised in preaching as that he is able to preach as it were ex tempore not that he casteth himself upon extraordinary inspirations but is inabled by the help of his former studies and exercise so is his faculty to be commended who is so well studied in Divinity and exercised in applying the severall parts of religion to the use of prayer that he is able as it were ex tempore to conceive a prayer not that in so doing he casteth himself upon the extraordinary inspiration of the holy Spirit but is inabled by the help of his former studies and meditations Now if I be asked the question Whether is better a set form of prayer or a prayer conceived I answer by distinction For if they speak of such a prayer as is conceived ex tempore without former study and meditation by such an one as expecteth extraordinary inspiration meaning to pray as the spirit shall move him I answer that a
seâ—… form is to be preferred before such an extemporall prayer First because it wanteth due reverence of God when men dare speak to God quicquid in buccam venerit whatsoever first cometh into the mouth when as if they were to speak to their prince or any whom they reverenced they would use preparation and directly against the advice of Salomon Eccles 5. 1. Secondly because it is joyned with the presumptuous fansie of the Enthusiasts and tempting of God Thirdly because in prayers rashly and suddenly made many times things are uttered which beseem not the majestie of God nor are expedient for men Such sudden prayers are of the mind rather then of the heart Fourthly Though the thing uttered were good without exception yet that good which is uttered upon premeditation and mature deliberation is more acceptable unto God then that which proceedeth from a sudden motion If they speak of a prayer conceived upon due meditation I distinguish again in respect of private prayer of one and that which is common and publick For private prayers that course is to be followed for which most do find themselves best qualified being alwayes carefull to avoyd those inconveniences to which either a set form or a conceived prayer is more subject The set form is more subject to wandering thoughts and want of attention of mind the conceived to want of affection the powers of the soul being wholly occupied in invention But for the most this will be found the most behooffull course to have a set form or forms rather for the generall and the many blessings for which we are either to pray or to prayse God ordinarily whereunto extraordinarily something is to be added as occasion is offered I say forms rather for the avoyding of distraction and wandering thoughts And because our prayers are defective it shall be expedient to conclude them with that absolute form which Christ hath taught us As for prayers publick and common with others Though a conceived prayer be more commendable in the speaker if it be performed without spirituall pride and ostentation yet a set form or forms is more profitable for the hearers who with a known form may easily concurre in prayer with the speaker which in a conceived form unheard of before they cannot so well do All which I have the rather noted because I understand that in these times both many hearers do erroneously magnifie extemporall prayers contemning all set forms and also the oratours or speakers themselves in great ostentation and spirituall pride affect such variety of extemporall prayers as if they scorned to use the same form twice when as our Saviour in the garden is recorded to have prayed thrice and to have used the same form Matth. 26. 29 42 44. CHAP. XXIV Of things required out of the action of prayer HItherto we have spoken of such things as are required in the action of invocation Now we are to treat of those things which must be done out of the action that is to say both before and after Before there is required preparation For â—… if we ought to prepare our selves when the Lord is to speak unto us in the ministery of the word that we may be fit to heare as Exod. 19. Eccles 4. 17. then muâ—…h more are we bound to prepare our selves when we our selves are to be speakers that we may be fit to speak to so great a Majestie 2. If we will not speak to our superiours especially our Prince without preparation how much more ought we to come prepared when we are to speak to the King of kings and that concerning matters of great importance Thirdly we may not be rash with our mouthes nor let our hearts be hastie to utter any thing before God Eccles 5. 1. But as the sonne of Sirach adviseth Before we pray we ought to prepare our selves and not be as those that tempt God Ecclus 18. 23. Fourthly we have the example of David Psal. 108. 1. and 57. 7. O God my heart is prepared so is my glory I will fing and give praise Now this preparation consisteth partly in removing the impediments and partly in the using of the means For first We must look to our feet Eccles 5. 1. that is with what affections and dispositions we come to prayer and consequently are to lay aside all carnall thoughts and worldly cares which might distract our minds Quicquid ante orationis horam anima nostra conceperit necesse est ut orantibus nobis per ingestionem recordationis occurrat Quamobrem quales orantes volumus inveniri tales nos ante orationis tempuâ—… praeparare debemus Whatsoever before the houre of prayer the mind hath conceived it is necessary that whilest we are praying it offer it self by the ingestion of the remembrance Wherefore such as we would be found to be whilest we pray we must prepare our selves to be such before the time of prayer Secondly we must put off the shoes off our feet as Exod. 3. Jos. 5. that is our pollutions and corrupt affections as carnall lust which maketh the heart speak lewd things and anger as 1. Tim. 2. 8. 1. Pet. 5. 7. Matth. 5. 23 24. Thirdly we must not suffer our heart to be made heavie with surfeting and drunkennesse Luke 21. 34 36. but contrariwise with prayer upon extraordinary occasions to joyn fasting 1. Cor. 7. 5. and with the ordinarie a moderate diet Fourthly if we be guilty of any sin unrepented of we must repent thereof promising and purposing amendment for the time to come for sinne not repented of is as a wall of separation between God and us Isai. 59. 1 2. God heareth not impenitent sinners John 9. 31. Isai. 1. 15 16 18. therefore as Psal. 26. 6. we must wash our hands in innocencie and so come to the altar of the Lord to offer the incense of our prayers lifting up holy hands unto God 1. Tim. 2. 8. The means First because the Lord prepareth the heart Psal. 10. 17. we are to desire him to prepare our hearts unto prayer Secondly we must use meditation In which regard David calleth his prayer his meditation Psal. 5. 1. that is to say that which he had meditated of Psal. 142. 2. Effundam coram eo meditationem meam I will poure out my meditation before him There is such affinity between meditation and prayer that the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth either of both to meditate or to pray and therefore Gen. 24. 63. some reade that Isaac went out to meditate others to pray And it is likely that he did both first meditate and then pray Now the end of this preparation being to make us fit to perform such duties as are required in prayer our meditation must be referred thereunto And first if we find ourselves backward in the duty it self we may meditate on those reasons which before we used to this purpose And that we may perform it in an
excluded from private prayer But to apply the former distinction to private prayer also and first for statae That our infirmity may be helped and our backwardnesse in this duty relieved we are to appoint to our selves some certain houres in the day which we will not let passe without invocation on the name of God but yet so as we place no religion in one time more then in another as the Papists do in their canonicall houres as though God were more ready to heare one time of the day then another This practice which I have named the most holy men of God have used As David Psal. 55. 17. In the morning at noon â—…nd in the evening will I pray And Daniel chap. 6. 10. used to pray three times in the day Which practice of theirs we are thus to imitate 1. to pray in the morning before we go about the works of our calling 2. in the mid-day in the time of intermission of our works and thirdly at evening before we take our rest and besides whensoever we take meaâ—… we are to use both prayer and thanksgiving 1. Tim. 4. 4 5. 2. Concerning vagae We are to follow the advice of the Apostle Col. 3. 17. In every thing which we do in word or deed both to take it in hand by calling upon the name of the Lord and to end it with thanksgiving Not that we are alwayes to use the voice and gesture of the body for sometime it is sufficient to lift up the soul unto the Lord Which kind of short prayers among the ancient Fathers were called ejaculations And thus if we shall use statae vagae orationes stinted and unstinted prayers omitting no just occasions we shall perform the commandment 1. Thess. 5. 17. but otherwise we shall break the same and in so doing we shall incurre the wrath of God CHAP. XXVIII Concerning the place of prayer THirdly concerning the place To no one certain place is that promise made that then was made to the temple of Jerusalem viz. That whatsoever men in their extremitie should ask of God in it God would grant it in his holy habitation in the heavens Jesus the Messias then looked for whose presence was sought in the mercy-seat and between the Cherubims is now entred between the veil that is in the heaven and there abideth onely Mediatour for us unto whom from all the coasts of the earth we may lift up pure hands with assurance that we shall be heard Howsoever the Israelites under the Law were tyed to pray either in the temple and tabernacle Deut. 12. 5 14. Psal. 99. 6. or else towards the same 2 Chron. 7. 38. 1. Kings 8. 44 48. Psal. 138. 2. Dan. 6. 10. yet now all such distinction and difference of place being but ceremoniall is abolished For that one place of prayer and sacrifice was a type of Christ Jesus the alone altar and the praying in or towards the same did figure out thus much That onely in the mediation of Jesus Christ who is the onely Mediatour both of redemption and also of intercession we are to call upon the Lord Wherefore seeing these were but shadows and ceremonies of things to come and seeing the substance and truth it self Jesus Christ is already exhibited whereunto the shadows and ceremonies do and ought to give place we are not now tied to one place more then another as one being more typically holy then another In the 4. of John v. 21 22 23 24. our Saviour himself resolveth this doubt for when the Samaritane had demanded of him which is that place wherein God is to be worshipped the mount Gerizzim where the Samaritanes temple was or the mount Moriah whereon the temple of Solomon was built Christ giveth her this answer That now the time was come wherein all these differences of places being but ceremoniall were taken away that now the Lord was no more to be worshipped by ceremonies but in spirit and truth and therefore that it was lawfull to worship God not onely in Jerusalem oâ—… in mount Gerizzim but also in other places The Prophet Malachi seemeth to foretell the same chap. 1. 11. For so the Lord speaketh by him From the rising of the sunne to the going down of the same my name is great among the Gentiles and in every place incense shall be offered in my name c. But most plain is that 1. Tim. 2. 8. where the Apostle willeth that men should pray 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in every place lifting up holy hands without wrath or doubting So that there is no such difference of place but that we may lawfully call upon God in any place Which also is confirmed unto us by the practice of Christ and his Apostles who did not onely pray in the temple but without distinction in other places as in the mountain in the desert in the garden in private houses on the house-top on the sea-shore and where not Hence appeareth the vanity of Pilgrimages Which were used either because the places were more holy to which they went then others or because the Lord was nearer to them there then elsewhere The former reason I have already confuted and the latter is more absurd For is the Lord present at Jerusalem and is he absent in England nay Do not I â—…ill heaven and earth saith the Lord Jer. 23. 24. And doth not the Psalmist say Psal 138. 8. If I ascend into heaven thou art there if I lie down in hell thou art there If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea yea thither shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand hold me Seeing therefore that the Lord is every where present to heare us we may call upon him in any place and the rather because our bodies are the temples of God and we our selves priests and Christ Jesus dwelleth in our temples upon whom as being our onely altar we may offer up incense that is our prayers Revel 5. 8. Psal. 141. 2. So that wheresoever we are we have temples wherein to call upon the Lord. Now howsoever this which I have said be in generall true of Invocation both publick and private yet it is to be understood of publick with this distinction For publick prayer is to be considered according to the state of the Church If the Church be either in persecution or warfare wheresoever the assembly meeteth to that purpose there may they lawfully pray As namely in persecution in private houses or in secret places for the assembly not the place maketh prayer publick But if the Church be in flourishing and quiet estate there ought some publick places as Churches to be appointed for that purpose wherein the congregation ordinarily is to be assembled not for any greater holinesse in the Churches then in other places for the assembly sanctifieth the place and not the place the assembly but onely for good orders sake and politie of the Church CHAP.
not find themselves to stand in need of Gods help neither do depend upon the providence or blessing of God in the use of the means For such when they pray unto God for these things as namely to give them this day their daily bread they do not pray in truth because they do not unfeignedly desire that whereof they find no want II. In respect of spirituall things two sorts of men offend First those that are carnally secure who although they be wretched and miserable poore blind and naked yet being lukewarm with the Laodiceans Rev. 3. 17. feeling no want think they are rich and need nothing Secondly those who are righteous in their own conceit as Pharisaicall and Popish justitiaries For both these and the other feeling no want either pray not at all or if they do pray it is but for fashions sake and therefore praying usu magis quà m sensu out of custome rather then sense their prayer is not acceptable unto God and like lukewarm water to the stomach Wherefore it behoveth us to labour that we may have a true sense of our wants Which I speak especially in respect of spirituall graces for when we are pinched with bodily wants we are many times but too sensible thereof But of spirituall wants many have no sense and being miserable they feel no misery First therefore it is good to be perswaded that this sense of our wants is necessary for us For without it neither will we seriously seek unto the Lord neither will he seem to regard us We will not earnestly seek unto him for what we do not want we do not desire and what we do not desire that we do not ask except it be for fashion And how can we look that the Lord will compati that is have compassion on us when we do not pati or feel any want How can we desire him misereri to have mercy on us when we do not esteem our selves miseri to whom mercy belongeth for thence hath misericordia the name Yea if we be rich and full in ouâ—… own conceits the Lord will send us away empty Luke 1. 55. remaining in our sinne Luke 18. 14. exposed to his curse Luke 6. 24 25. Whereas on the other side if we be humbled with the sense of our want the Lord will have speciall regard unto us Isai. 66. 2. and 57. 15. and be near unto us in all our desires Psal. 34. 18. Yea such he calleth to him Matth. 11. 28. such he promiseth to heare Psal. 10. 17. John 7. 37. such he pronounceth blessed Matth. 5. 3 4 5. Secondly that we may attein to this sight and sense of our misery and wants we are to look into the glasse of the law which will reveal unto us our misery both in respect of our sins and also of the punishment due for the same c. Thirdly for as much as the sight and sense of our misery is the gift of God and work of his spirit we are to pray unto God that he will anoint the eyes of our minds with the eye-salve of his spirit Revel 3. 18. that we may see our sins and that he would touch our hearts with the finger of his spirit as he struck the rock in the wildernes that they may melt within us as the heart of Josias did at the reading of the law 2. Kings 22. 19. and be resolved into a fountain of tears by which we may bewail our sinnes whereby we have displeased and dishonoured God From this sense of our wants ariseth the second thing that is an earnest desire to have our wants supplyed And this is of such force in prayer that it seemeth to be nothing else but the expressing of our desire and is therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of such efficacie in prayer that some place the efficacie of prayer therein so reade the words of S. James ch 5. 16. The effectuall â—…ervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much others The prayer of a righteous man availeth much if it be fervent But though it be not the onely cause of efficacy yet it is one of the principall for as Augustine saith Dignior sâ—…quitur effectus quem ferventior affectus praecedit A more worthy effect followeth which a more fervent affection precedeth This praying with earnest desire is commended to us in the word of God by divers significant phrases For besides that it is called crying unto the Lord and crying mightily Jon. 3. 8. lifting up of our prayer Isai. 38. 14. this is also to poure forth our souls before the Lord like water Lam. 2. 19. In which sense the Israelites are said 1. Sam. 7. 6. to have drawn water from the fountain of their hearts and poured it out before the Lord. This is to pray with grones unspeakable Rom. 8. 26. which the holy Ghost stirreth up in us and is therefore an evident token of the child of God indued with the Spirit of adoption which is also the spirit of grace and supplication making us when we look upon him whom we have pierced by our sinnes to lament and mourn as a man mourneth for his first-begotten Zech. 12. 10. For as Augustine saith Plerunque hoc negotium plùs gemitibus quà m sermonibus agituâ—… fletu plùs quam affatu For the most part this businesse is effected better with grones then words with weeping rather then speaking This is to pray with Paul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exceedingly 1. Thess. 3. 10. This is with Epaphras Col. 4. 12. as it were to wrestle with the Lord which the Apostle commendeth to the Romanes chap. 15. 30. By which kind of wrestling Jacob prevailed with God as Hosea teacheth chap. 2. 3 4. and was therefore called Israel Gen. 32. This is that prayer of the humble which pierceth the clouds Ecclus 35. 21. This fervent desire therefore is fervently to be desired of us and happy are they which have atteined to it Matth. 5. 6. The means to attein unto it are First because it is the work of Gods spirit to beg it of him by prayer Secondly to labour after a true sense of our wants Thirdly in our preparation to meditate on the excellency profit and necessity of those things which we crave that so our affections may be inflamed with a desire thereof as also of the necessity of Gods help that except the Lord heare us and help us our case is desperate So David prayeth Psal. 28. 1. and 143. 6 7. Heare me O Lord and hide not thy face else I shall be like to them that go down into the pit Fourthly we are upon extraordinary occasions to joyn fasting with our prayers as we are directed in many places of the Scripture For fasting as it causeth the hunger of the body 〈◊〉 it is an effectuall means to stirre up and increase the hunger of the soul. For which cause the Fathers 〈◊〉 fasting orationis alas the wings of prayer CHAP. XXX Of Faith
relation to the creatures So Deut. 32. 6. Isai. 63. 16. But howsoever the whole Trinity is our Father so to be worshipped of us yet this speech is more peculiarly directed to the first Person the fountain of the Godhead who is the Father of Christ Ephes. 3. 14. and in him our Father John 20. 17. yet so as in worshipping him we joyntly worship the other two who as they are all one in essence coequall and coeternall concurring also in all actions towards us so they are altogether to be worshipped O God thou Father of Christ and in him our Father who givest the Spirit of thy Sonne whereby we cry Abba Father to thee we present our prayers in the name of thy Son craving the help of the holy Ghost The second Person is called our Father Isai. 9. 6. so may the holy Ghost who doth regenerate us Deut. 32. 6. and to either of them may our prayers be directed Acts 7. 59. So that our prayer may be directed to any or to all the Persons 2. Cor. 13. 13. or to two of them 1. Thess. 3. 11. We are taught to whom to direct our prayers namely to God alone For seeing our Saviour hath commanded us when we pray to say Our Father it is evident that we break the commandment if we direct our prayers to any to whom we may not say Our Father c. Which title without blasphemy we cannot attribute to any but onely to the Lord who is our heavenly Father Jer. 31. 9. Sum Israeli Pater I am a Father to Israel Secondly whereas by nature we are the children of wrath and yet commanded to call upon God as our Father we are taught in whose name we are to come unto God Not in our own names or worthinesse Dan. 9. 18. for then we shall find him a Judge rather then a Father but onely in the name and mediation of Christ Eph. 3. 12. in whom he is our Father and in whose name he hath promised to grant whatsoever we ask according to his will It is well said of Calvine Cùm Deum Patrem vocamus Christi nomen praetendimus When we call God Father we pretend the name of Christ. 3. We are taught that the help of the holy Ghost is necessary in prayer For how should we which were children of wrath dare to call God our Father or be assured that we be his children By the holy Ghost who is the spirit of adoption beareth witnesse to our spirits that we are the sonnes of God we cry in our hearts Abba Father Rom. 2. 15 16. For if none can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost then much lesse can a man call upon God as his Father in Christ except he be endued by the holy Ghost We must therefore as the Apostle teacheth us Ephes. 2. 18. call upon God the Father in the name of the Sonne by the assistance of the holy Ghost so shall we though unworthy and unable to call upon God in Christ be accepted and by the holy Ghost be enabled to pray according to God Here therefore first are they refuted who think they may lawfully direct their prayers either to Angels or Saints to whom the name Father is opposed Isai. 63. 16. or to their images saying to a stock or stone Our father Jer. 2. 27. If God be our heavenly Father who is more willing to give good things then any earthly parents and also all-sufficient why should we seek to any other unlesse we can either accuse him of unkindnesse or object want of power unto him Secondly if God be our Father in Christ then ought we with boldnesse to come unto the throne of grace through him Ephes. 3. 12. Neither do we need any other mediation then of the Sonne who is the onely Mediatour as of redemption so also of intercession 1. Tim. 2. 5. contrary to the doctrine of the Papists who teach men to use the mediation of Saints Whereas our Saviour John 16. 26. having commanded us to pray in his name addeth I say not that I will intreat the Father for you for the Father himself loveth you Duties in Prayer IF God be our Father we must come 1. In reverence as unto our heavenly Father 2. In dutifull thankfull and sonne-like affection acknowledging his mercy of Adoption who when we were by nature children of wrath adopted us to be his sonnes and if sonnes then heirs Behold what love the Father hath shewed on us that we should be called the sonnes of God 3. In faith and assurance not onely that we and our prayers are accepted in Christ but that our prayers shall be granted unto us of our Father as may be most for his glory and our good And that we may come in faith let us consider First that without faith we are no sonnes of his but children of wrath Ephes. 2. 3 12. and if we believe we are the sonnes of God John 1. 12. and of the houshold of faith Secondly that if God be our Father in Christ he will grant us what good thing soever we ask For 1. he is affected as a good Father towards his children yea his love towards us is so much greater then the love of earthly parents as his goodnesse and mercy is greater Isai. 63. 16. Psal. 27. 10. Isai. 49. 15. Matth. 7. 11. Luke 11. 13. 2. In that he is our Father he hath given us the greatest gift that can be imagined and therefore will not deny the lesfe Pater quid negabit filiis qui jam dedit quòd pater est What will the father deny to his sons who hath vouchsafed already to be our Father For if he have so loved us that he gave his Son for us that in him we might be adopted his children how shall he not with him give us all good things Rom. 8. 32. 3. In that he hath vouchsafed us this great love to be our Father and that we should be his children he hath also made us his heirs provided us an inheritance in heaven For as he gave his Sonne in pretium for a price so he reserveth himself in praemium for a reward If therefore it be our Fathers pleasure to give us a kingdome we need not fear but that he will grant us matters of lesse moment Luke 12. 32. 4. In sonne-like submission we are to call upon God our Father c. Matth. 26. 39 42. And in this faith we are to rest in the will of our Father submitting our selves thereto knowing that he will dispose of us for the best Duties in our lives IF we call God our Father we must behave our selves as dutifull and obedient children 1. Pet. 1. 14. we must walk worthy our calling Ephes. 4. 1. For seeing we have these promises namely that God will be a Father unto us and that we shall be his sonnes and daughters we ought to cleanse our selves from all filthinesse of
the Scriptures to be men of name Gen. 6. 4. In this sense the word name is used Gen. 11. 4. That we may get us a name Gen. 12. 2. I will make thy name great Jer. 13. 11. name praise and glory Deut. 26. 19. The name of God therefore signifieth that whereby he is renowned and acknowledged to be glorious that is his glory So Exod. 9. 16. Psal. 8. 1. Again the name of God signifieth that whereby he is known to wit not onely his Titles which more properly are called his name and by which he is known but also the Means whereby he is known The titles are the names of the Godhead of the attributes and of the Persons Of the Godhead as Jehovah Lord God c. Exod. 3. 15. This is my name Exod. 6. 3. Psal. 83. 18. Attributes as Wisdome Mercy Justice Majesty c. Persons as Father Christ Jesus Saviour holy Ghost c. The means whereby God is known are either peculiar to the Church or common unto all Of the first sort are his word and religion therein prescribed The word of God is called his name as Acts 9. 15. to carry my name c. and 21. 13. 1. Tim. 6. 1. with Tit. 2. 5. Rom. 2. 24. Psal. 22. 22. Heb. 2. 12. So is the doctrine of religion and worship of God Mich. 4. 5. We will walk in the name of our God 1. Kings 5. 3 5. to build a house unto the name of God The common means are the works of God The works of Creation Psal. 19. 1. Rom. 1. 19 20. In respect where of he is called the Creatour of heaven and earth As also of Administration as his blessings and judgements In respect where of he is called the Governour and Judge of the world Exod. 34. 7. All these doth the name of God signifie To sanctifie signifieth either to make holy or to acknowledge declare holy In the first sense things are said to be sanctified and in themselves being not holy to be made holy which are set apart to holy uses as the Sabbath the Temple Priests Christians consecrated and set apart to the worship and service of God In which sense the name of God which is most holy Psal. 111. 9. cannot be said to be sanctified 2. To sanctifie is to acknowledge declare holy as wisdome in the like phrase of speech is said to be justified Luke 7. 35. and God to be magnified and glorified And thus the name of God is sanctified either by us or by God himself Num. 20. 12 13. By us I mean our selves and others for whom also we pray when as the name of God is most holy and reverend so we in our hearts acknowledge and that effectually in our tongues professe in our deeds use it as most holy reverend By God himself his name is sanctified when either he manifesteth the glory of his mercy and justice or else freeth it from the pollutions of men especially when men neglect it and removeth the impediments Num. 20. 12 13. First we pray that Gods name may be sanctified of us that is That God would vouchsafe unto us his grace that we may give unto the Lord the honour due unto his name Psal. 29. 2. that as his name is most excellent holy glorious and reverend so his prayse may be unto the ends of the earth Psal. 48. 11. We sanctifie the name of God which is most holy and reverend and glorious Deut. 28. 5â—… whenas in our hearts words and deeds we do use it holily and reverently But to speak more especially according to the significations of the name of God The names of God first signifie himself and his attributes which are himself which we desire in this prayer that we may sanctifie in our hearts tongues and lives In our hearts we sanctifie God as Peter exhorteth 1. Epist. 3. 15. when as 1. we do acknowledge and that effectually That there is a God That this God is such an one as he hath revealed himself in his word most wise most just most mercifull infinite in power essence and continuance c. 2. When in our minds we think and conceive nothing of God but that which beseemeth his glorious majestie that is when we alwayes think and conceive of God most holily and reverently In our mouthes 1. When we confesse and acknowledge and professe God and his attributes c. Rom. 10. 10. 2. When we speak of God and his attributes holily and everently In our lives when the knowledge of God and his attributes is effectuall to bring forth in us a conversation answerable thereunto Knowest thou there is a God worship him That he is a Spirit worship him in spirit and truth That he is just fear him That he is mercifull love him That he is omnipresent behave thy self as in his presence That he is omnisufficient repose thy trust in him That he is omniscient and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sâ—…archer of the heart approve thine heart to him c. Thus then we desire that the name of God in the first sense may be sanctified by us The uses 1. Concerning prayer THat we may pray fervently we must have a feeling of our want as our ignorance of God here we pray for knowledge of God without which we cannot acknowledge him the vanity of our minds thinking amisse of God Job 1. 5. our irreverent speech of God our not sanctifying of God in our lives a fault incident to the best Num. 20. 12. For who can say that he hath loved and feared God c. as he ought and behaved himself alwayes as in Gods presence 2. Concerning our lives The use concerning our lives That as in our prayers we desire so in our lives we endeavour thus to sanctifie God For if we our selves will not endeavour thus to do it sheweth that we have no true desire hereof but pray in hypocrisie with feigned lips Their hypocrisie therefore here is detected who desiring with their mouth that they may sanctifie God will think that there is no God Psal. 14. 1. will think basely of him Psal. 50. 21. or deny his providence mercy and justice Psal. 10. 11. who use to speak unreverently of God and his attributes to murmure against his justice c. Psal. 78. 19. who live as if there were no God Tit. 1. 16 that say he is a Spirit but desire not to worship him in spirit that he is just and yet desire not to fear him c. II. How Gods name signifying his glory is hallowed by us SEcondly the name of God signifieth his glory Which we do sanctifie whenas we glorifie God in our hearts mouthes and lives And this is the most principall signification of this petition We glorifie him in our hearts 1. When in the affections of our hearts we desire the procuring and advancement of Gods glory above all things as being more dear unto us then our own good 2. When as in the purpose of our hearts we
intend the glory of God in all things putting into our hearts to give glory to his name Mal. 2. 2. In our mouthes we glorifie him when we make the glory of God the mattâ—…r and end of our speech The matter when in our speech we set forth the praises of God whose name is to be exalted above all prayse Neh. 9. 5. For to prayse him is to glorifie him Luke 2. 20. Psal. 50. 23. and to make his prayse glorious Psal. 66. 2. We make it the end of our speech when therein we intend the glory of God either by the profession of a necessary truth Josh. 7. 19. or by a speech seasoned with grace tending to the glory of God or the good and edification of our brethren which is subordinate thereunto Col. 4. 6. In our lives we glorifie God 1. When in all our actions whatsoever we aim at the glory of God according to that 1. Cor. 10. 31. 2. When by our godly lives we do not onely glorifie God our selves John 15. 8. but give just occasion to others of glorifying him Matth. 5. 12. 1. Pet. 2. 12. Vses 1. In prayer Wants to be bewâ—…yled 1. Our pride and vain-glory seeking our selves and our own prayse 2. The neglect of Gods glory the main end of all things which ought to be more dear to us then our salvation Such we are that except the Lord endue us with this grace we neglect his glory and so live in vain 3. Our suppressing of Gods prayse our unthankfulnes 4. Our idle and unsavoury speeches 5. Our manifold slips in our lives whereby God is dishonoured All which are faults incident to the best of us and therefore we had need earnestly to pray that God may be glorified of us 2. Sam. 12. 14. Graces which we desire 1. Zeal of Gods glory 2. Thankfulnesse 3. A desire to glorifie God by a godly life 2. Vses in our lives As we are in prayer earnestly to desire that we may give glory to God so in our lives we must endeavour both in our hearts tongues and works to glorifie him c. Otherwise if in our mouthes we desire that we may glorifie him and in our hearts neither desire it nor intend it if we altogether seek our selves and our own praise if we use to suppresse the praises of God and to smother his truth if our ordinary speech be idle and unsavoury our lives dissolute from whence no honour can arise unto God and in truth desire not to be freed from these sinnes nay on the contrary if in stead of intending Gods glory we seek his dishonour in stead of sounding forth his prayse we blaspheme his holy name in stead of professing and defending his truth we oppugne the same in stead of savoury speeches they be rotten and infective in stead of causing the name of God to be glorified we cause it to be blasphemed our prayer is little better then mockery of God And yet such is the prayer of very many which with their mouthes desire that they may glorifie God and yet desire not his glory in their hearts nor seek it in their lives but rather practice such things whereby the name of God is dishonoured and blasphemed The glory of God is most dear unto him and so must be to us Acts 12. 22. His glory he will not lose III. The name of God signifying his titles how it is hallowed THirdly the name of God doth signifie his titles the titles I say of the Deity Attributes and Persons This name of God is sanctified when as it is holy and reverend so it is used of us It is used of us either by taking it into our mouthes or by taking it upon us We sanctifie it in our mouthes and so in our writings when as we make aâ—… holy and reverent mention of the titles of God Which we do when we mention them in a serious matter after a reverent manner to a holy end For the most holy and dreadfull name of the Lord our God Deut. 28. 58. must not be used to trifles and ridiculous matters neither may we lightly take up the most reverend name of God which we are not worthy to take into our mouthes neither must the glorious name of God be mentioned but to his glory either mediately or immediately And hereunto we are to referre two sorts of usurpation of Gods name and titles by Blessing and Swearing aright Blessing is either of God or man The blessing of God is the praysing of God of which we have spoken Example Rom. 9. 5. and 1. 25. 2. Cor. 11. 31. Blessing of men in the name of God which the Scripture calleth the putting of Gods name upon them Num. 6. 27. is a duty to be performed by all to all even unto enemies Rom. 12. 14. Matth. 5. 44. whereunto referre salutation but especially to be performed by superiours Hos. 7. 7. to their inferiours in the commonwealth by Princes and Magistrates David 2. Sam. 6. 18. Solomon 1. Kings 8. 55. In the Church Num. 6. 23 24 25. Melchisedec Gen. 14. 19. In the family by parents unto which the Lord giveth great force c. By swearing we make a holy and reverent mention of the name of God whenas we swear in truth judgement and righteousnesse Jer. 4. 2 c. We take upon us the name of God when his name is called upon in us as Gen. 48. 16. i. when we call our selves by his name and professe our selves to be the children of God Isai. 43. 6 7. which began to be done in the time of Seth after the birth of Enosh Gen. 4. 26. 6. 2. In these last times those of the Church of God do invocate the name of Christ Acts 9. 14 21. 1. Cor. 1. 2. and are called by his name Christians Acts 11. 26. and are baptized into his name Thus we sanctifie the name of Christ when as we walk worthy our calling whereby we are called Ephes. 4. 1. and adorn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour in all things departing from inâ—…quity as it is 2. Tim. 2. 19. Vses in prayer 1. Graces to be desired 1. That we may use the titles of God reverently 2. That we may swear by his name alone in judgement truth and righteousnesse 3. That we may walk worthy our calling 2. Wants to be bewayled 1. Irreverence in using the titles of God 2. Rash swearing 3. Not walking worthy our calling Vses in our lives As we pray that we may sanctifie the name of God so must we be carefull in our lives 1. To be mindfull of God and to mention him in matters serious to a good end after a reverent manner We mention not our prince without some shew of reverence how much more ought we to bow the knees of our hearts when we mention the glorious name of our God Exâ—…mple Rom. 9. 5. 2. To use blessing and not cursing Rom. 12. 14. 3. To swear by the Lord alone in truth judgement and righteousnesse
they cannot mind heavenly things By them as baits he allureth to sinne as snares entangleth to perdition Which make men citizens of the earth and misse of their freedome in heaven which cause men place their paradise upon the earth and not to care for the kingdome of heaven For a man cannot serve God and Mammon or be a worldling and yet a subject of this kingdome which make worldly men sell their birthright with Esau c. therefore we pray that the Lord would deliver us from the evil world Gal. 1. 4. wain us from it that we may renounce all worldly lusts that we may use the world so as we abuse it not 1. Cor. 7. 31. that the world may be crucified unto us and we to the world Gal. 6. that by faith we may overcome the world 1. John 5. 4. and that we may behave our selves not as worldlings minding earthly things but as pilgrimes on the earth and â—…itizens of heaven and fellow-citizens of the saints Ephes. 2. 19. whos 's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oonversation is in heaven Phil. 3. 19 20. The third is our Flesh that is our own corrupt nature the wisdome whereof is eâ—…mity against God which lusteth against the spirit which sendeth out continuall lusts as it were sparkles out of a furnace which fight against our souls which the devil abuseth as his bawd to pollute us and to beget in us all manner of sinnes which bring forth death Therefore we pray that the Lord would reigne in us by his Spirit that we may not be carnall but spirituall that we may not walk after the flesh but after the spirit that as being pilgrimes on earth but citizens of heaven we may abstein from fleshly lusts c. 1. Pet. 2. 11. that we may crucifie the flesh and the lusts thereof Gal. 5. 24. In a word we desire that the Lord would confound the kingdome of darknesse whereby the devil ruleth in the hearts of men using for his instruments or souldiers the lusts of the world and of the flesh The outward enemies of Gods kingdome But these were spirituall enemies And we are not onely to pray against them but also against the outward enemies of the Church which is the kingdome of God And these are either open and professed enemies as the Turks and Infidels the great Turk being that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Abaddon that maketh havock of the Church Revel 9. 11. or else close and covert enemies which under the name and profession of Christ oppugne the kingdome of Christ as Antichrist his Synagogue that is the Pope and the Church of Rome For notwithstanding all their glorious profession that they and they alone are the Church of God yet these are they that say We will not have this man to reigne over us but having received the mark of the beast are in subjection to the Pope under penalty of damnation And he sitteth in or rather sets himself against the Church usurping sovereigne authority and sitting as God in the throne of Christ he deteineth the people in ignorance making them believe that their implicite faith will save them and so they lead them blindfolded after them as it were in a string to perdition For whose law reigneth amongst them Gods or their own The breach of whose law more severely punished To whose government are they subject Gods or their own What doctrine do they teach the word of God or the inventions of men The word of God which is his sceptre do they not suppresse this light of mens souls do they not hide it from the people under a strange language as it were under a bushel do they follow the Lambe that have received the mark of the beast and persecute with fire and sword all true professours c. Well against these enemies both secret and open covert and discovered that is Gog and Magog Revel 20. we are taught to pray that being subdued that is either converted or subverted the Church and kingdome of God may be advanced Besides these enemies there are also other impediments of the kingdome of God opposite to the outward means As to the preaching of the word 1. The insufficiency of Ministers not able to teach 2. Their negligence and idlenesse 3. Their causelesse non-residencie and covetous multiplying benefices with cure 4. The want of maintenance by impropriations and corruption of Patrones All these we are to pray that they may be removed and a free passage to his word granted Impediments opposite to government are either no government but confusion in the Church and Commonweal or else corrupt government the rulers hindring rather then promoting the kingdome of Christ. We see then what we desire when we pray that the kingdome of grace may come viz. That where it is not it may be erected and where it is it may be continued and enlarged That he would blesse preserve and protect his Church That the Lord would rule and reigne in us by his word and Spirit That he would effectually call those which belonging to his election are not called That he would justifie us by faith sanctifie us by the holy Ghost and make us and all his meet to be partakers with the Saints in light That we may more and more feel in our selves the fruits of this kingdome righteousnesse and peace and joy in the holy Ghost and to this end That he would give a free passage to his word and send faithfull labourers into his harvest blessing them and their ministery and also the seed-plots thereof That he would establish an holy government in the Church and Commonwealth and blesse the governours c. That he would grant unto it the effectuall operation of the holy Spirit making the outward means profitable That he would confound the kingdome of darknesse sinne Satan and Antichrist That the devil may be trod under our feet the world crucified unto us and we to the world the flesh with the lusts thereof mortified That we may renounce and forsake according to our vow in baptisme the flesh the world and the devil That all other impediments of his kingdome of grace and our salvation being removed we may be preserved blamelesse to the coming of Christ and may be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation Vses Wants to be bewailed Now let us come to the uses First our need which we have to make this prayer by reason of our defection from God in our first parents and our originall sinne derived from them For before man fell from God by sinne he was wholly subject to the kingdome of God and conformable to his will in all righteousnesse and holinesse his mind inlightened with knowledge endued with wisdome his conscience pure his will holy and just his affections orderly the inferiour powers of his soul subordinate to the superiour and all to God the members of the body instruments of holinesse unto righteousnesse But when as man fell from God by sinne
he became the subject of Satan his mind darkened with ignorance folly in spirituall things his conscience impure his will not onely unjust but also unable to will that which is good his affections inordinate the inferiour faculties rebelling against the superiour the members of the body instruments of sinne unto iniquity We therefore that are bred and born in this state of disobedience have great need to pray that the Lord would rule in us that we may be renewed according to the image of God in holinesse and righteousnesse 2. Our spirituall servitude and bondage under sinne and Satan by reason whereof we are not able to come unto God but must desire that his kingdome may come unto us When we ceased to subject our selves to God we became the subjects of Satan when we left to be the servants of righteousnesse we became the servants of sinne when we left the image of God we got the image of the devil Naturally we are wholly carried away by the devil as captives to the obedience of his will doing nothing but sinne and pleasing our selves therein thinking our selves free as John 8. being most bond and therefore if we did feel the power of sinne and Satan reigning in us we would with great fervency and vehemency of affection desire that the Lord would pull us out of this power of darknesse and translate us into the kingdome of his Sonne 3. Our unthankfulnesse unto God that hath brought us out of this bondage into the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God especially considering he gave himself for us to this end Luke 1. 74. Tit. 2. 14. 1. Pet. 2. 24. We had need therefore to pray that he would rule in us by his word and Spirit For professing our selves to be redeemed by Christ we behave our selves many of us as if we still were in the bondage of sinne For whom we obey his servants we are 4. Our neglect and contempt of the word 5. Our resisting the good motions of his Spirit and striving against the same our contristation or making heavy the Spirit of God 6. The remnants of the kingdome of darknesse or rather our heaps of sinnes and corruptions our continuall lusts and concupiscences 7. Our yielding to the temptations of Satan our worldly minds following after pleasure profit or preferment our not crucifying of the flesh but rather walking therein And as we are to ask good things for others so must we also bewail their wants As when we see men plunged in sinne and carried away headlong to their perdition as the swine were into the sea we ought to lament their desperate estate Psal. 119. 136 158. Ezech. 9. 4. We are to bewail all the impediments of the kingdome of Christ disorder in the Church confusion in the Commonweal the want of the word and causes thereof Our hearts ought to yern within us as our Saviours did Matth. 9. 36. when we see a people living in ignorance and sinne without means without God in this world and therefore for the supply of all these wants we are in sense thereof to pray fervently Let thy kingdome come Our duties in our lives 1. In respect of the kingdome of power That we acknowledge the Lord to be our absolute King That we submit our selves to his providence That we rest contented and well pleased with whatsoever he doth towards us who doth all things according to the counsel of his will 2. In respect of the kingdome of grace we ought to have an earnest desire of the advancement of Gods kingdome and zeal of the Churches good and more particularly that the Lord would reigne in us by his word and Spirit And unto this desire must be joyned an holy endeavour first in order and first in degree to seek the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse that is that the Lord would rule in us by his word and Spirit and that we may shew our subjection by bringing forth the fruits of righteousnesse 3. A carefull using of the means which God hath appointed to advance his kingdome to work our salvation to heare the word with submission reverence attention good conscience and desire to practiceit to nourish the good motions of the Spirit yielding our selves to be drawn thereby 4. Thankfulnesse to God that he hath made us subjects of his kingdome Col. 1. 12. Mark 11. 10. and care to behave our selves as subjects of this kingdome 5. Diligent endeavour in our severall places and callings to advance and further the kingdome of Christ. Princes and Magistrates must be nursing-fathers and nursing-mothers of the Church zealous by all good means to advance the kingdome of Christ and to remove the impediments thereof and to set themselves against the kingdome of darknesse of sinne Satan and Antichrist to root out all superstition and idolatry and the relicks thereof to reform religion where it is corrupt to be defenders of the faith to take order that there may be preachers in all places provided for and see them discharge their duties to punish sinners and reward the vertuous If we be Ministers we are by preaching of the word in season and out of season to do our endeavour to win men unto the Lord c. If private men we must live in obedience to superiours in Church and Commonwealth as to the ordinance of the Lord our King ruling us by them Whatsoever we are our dutie is to labour by all means 1. that we our selves may become subjects of the kingdome of grace and 2. that by all good means we may win others unto the Lord. 6. To oppose our selves against the enemies of the Church both spirituall and temporall to resist Satan and his temptations to be wained from the world and to mind heavenly things to walk not after the flesh but after the spirit to come out of Babylon into the Church of God to keep us therein to oppose our selves against Antichrist and his adherents as being enemies of the kingdome of Christ. But here the hypocrisie of very many is detected who ask this petition with their mouthes but desire it not with their hearts As first in respect of the universall kingdome those that will not submit themselves to the providence of God but desire rather that they were freed from all subjection unto God they abuse God in making their prayer and pray against themselves that God would advance his kingdome and make his enemies his footstool or break them with his iron sceptre like a potters vessel Secondly in regard of the kingdome of grace first those that will not have Christ to reigne over them by his word and spirit but cast off his yoke of subjection Luke 19. 14. Psal. 2. 3. sonnes of Belial such mock God when they say this prayer 2. Those who living in ignorance and sinne and consequently in spirituall bondage please themselves as if they were free John 8. 33. and therefore do not truly desire that Gods kingdome may come because they have
no sense of their own misery c. 3. Those that seek not the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse but set themselves to seek their own carnall and worldly desires 4. Those magistrates ministers people that seek not the advancement of Christs kingdome in themselves contemning the word quenching the spirit nor yet in others As for those Magistrates who in stead of cherishing the Church do persecute it in stead of advancing Gods kingdome do deface it erecting superstition and idolatry suppressing vertue advancing vice or those Ministers that deprive the people of the food of their souls and like dry nurses hunger-starve them or those men whosoever that labour to withdraw men from allegeance unto God all those oppose themselves to the kingdome of grace and therefore being enemies in making this prayer do ask their own confusion For our Saviour Christ sheweth himself to be a King as well in subduing his enemies as in preserving his subjects Psal. 110. 1. Psal. 2. 6. 5. Those that follow the temptations of the devil the desires of the world and lusts of the flesh and please themselves in so doing they are not guided by the Spirit of Christ but are enemies to his crosse Phil. 3. 19. and souldiers in Satans camp As therefore we desire the kingdome of grace so let us seek it c. Of the coming of the kingdome of glory which we here desire Thirdly we desire that the kingdome of glory may come that is that the number of the elect being accomplished and all Gods enemies subdued Christ would hasten his coming to judgement to our full redemption and glorification that God may be all in all Here therefore we pray 1. That God would hasten the coming of Christ unto judgement and to that end would accomplish the number of the elect and subdue all his enemies under his feet 2. That this kingdome may come unto us and that it may be possessed of us and to that end would make us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light and would free and keep us from all evil unto his own everlasting kingdome 2. Tim. 4. 18. and would by his power through faith preserve us unto everlasting life 1. Pet. 1. 5. Vses 1. Dutie in our lives We must earnestly desire the coming of Christ and believe that it shall come and that to our salvation 2. Wants to be bewailed First the want of faith by reason of the conscience of our manifold sinnes which make a separation between God and us and make the remembrance of the judgement terrible unto us so that we cannot desire the coming of Christ to judgement as we ought Secondly the worldlinesse of our minds in that we are all more or lesse overtaken of the desires thereof and not so wained from the world as becometh pilgrimes on earth so that many of us are so farre from desiring another life that they could be content to live here for ever Thirdly our sinnes must be as an heavie burden unto us that being weary we may earnestly desire to be dissolved and so disburdened of them Rom. 7. 23 24. Phil. 1. 23. Fourthly we must bewail and be weary of the sinnes of the world whereby Gods name is dishonoured his kingdome hindred his will neglected that so we may truly desire that an end may be put to these evil dayes and may say How long Lord holy and true Revel 6. 10. We must believe 1. That Christ will come to judgement and that there will be a kingdome of glory after this life for these two articles of our faith are here presupposed For if we be in the number of those mockers of whom Peter foretold 2. Epistle 3. 4. that believe not this second coming of Christ c. we shall but mock God if we make this petition 2. That Christ will come to our salvation and that we shall be inheritours of that kingdome for we cannot else truly desire his coming c. Duties in our lives I. We must give all diligence to make our calling and election sure For by this means an entring shall be ministred unto us abundantly into the everlasting kingdome of the Lord c. 2. Pet. 1. 10 11. II. If we pray in faith that our request may be granted we must expect Christs second coming And we must expect it with faith fervency patience and vigilancie With faith that is with perswasion assurance that Christ will come to our full redemption For wheÌ„ a man can truly say by faith that our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conversation is in heaven he will also adde with the Apostle from whence we look for a Sâ—…viour Phil. 3. 20. and consequently expect it with chearfulnesse and not with unhappy Felix tremble at the mention of judgement For howsoever it shall be a day of unspeakable terrour to the wicked yet to the godly it shall be a day of singular comfort For then the Lord shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Revel 7. 17. For which cause it is called the time of refreshing Acts 3. 19. And therefore our Saviour Christ Luke 21. 28. biddeth the faithfull to lift up their heads c. because the day of their full redemption both body and soul draweth near Secondly we must expect with earnest desire 1. eternall life 2. the coming of Christ Tit. 2. 13. For how can a man faithfully expect and certainly look for happinesse who doth not also earnestly desire it therefore the Apostle saith that we who have the first-fruits of the Spirit do sigh within our selves expecting the adoption that is the heavenly inheritance whereunto we are adopted and the redemption of our body at the second coming of Christ Rom. 8. 23. Secondly we are with desire to expect the second coming of Christ looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God 2. Pet. 3. 12. But there are many who with Balaam desire salvation but how few that desire the second coming of Christ Yet this is made a note of a true Christian to love and desire it 2. Tim. 4. 8. For as Th. Aquinas saith Qui diligit amicum cum desiderio exspectat eum He that loveth his friend expecteth him with longing desire And also they who believe that Christ is their Saviour they will also desire his coming And as the creature earnestly waiteth for that time which Acts 3. 21. is called the time of the restitution of all things which now are subject to vanity Rom. 8. 20. for then the heaven earth shall be renewed 2. Pet. 3. 13. so we also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit sigh within our selves waiting for the adoption even the redemption of our bodies Rom. 8. 23. Then is the time of Christs marriage with his Church and of our conformation with him in glory 1. John 3. 2. For when he shall appear we shall be like unto him If then the second coming of Christ shall be a day of refreshing of
sonnes and the application thereof Matth. 21. 28 29 30. Neither may we think that we shall obtein our prayers unlesse we be desirous to perform Gods will For if we will not do his will why should we think that he will do ours Prov. 28. 9. John 9. 31. We know that God heareth not sinners but if any man be a worshipper of God and doth his will him he heareth If we ask any thing saith S. John 1. Epist. 3. 22. we receive it from him because we keep his commandments and do those things which are acceptable in his sight If therefore we be desirous and carefull to obey Gods will we need not doubt having these testimonies of a true faith but that both we and our prayers are acceptable unto God For our selves our Saviour affirmeth that those be his brothers and sisters that do the will of his Father that is in heaven Matth. 12. 50. And the holy Ghost giveth this testimony unto David that he was a man according to Gods own heart who would do all his will Acts 13. 22. And elsewhere the Scriptures ascribe blessednesse to those that do the will of God Luke 11. 28. For our prayers John 15. 7. Psal. 34. 15 17. And as we are to do the will of God in generall so more especially those branches of his will which after a more speciall manner are called his will His will is if we would be saved we should come to the knowledge of his truth and not live in ignorance 1. Tim. 2. 4. that we should turn unto him and not go on in our sinnes Ezek. 33. 11. that we should believe in Christ 1. John 3. 23. that we should be sanctified dying unto sinne and living unto righteousnesse 1. Thess. 4. 3. Mich 6. 8. 1. Pet. 2. 15. that we should be patient in troubles and thankfull unto him in all things 1. Thess. 5. 18. And as we are to do the will of God so must we deny our own wills and renounce the desires of the world Duties respecting the manner And as touching the manner We are not to rest in opere operato in the deed done but as we pray that we may do the will of God on earth as the angels do it in heaven so must we endevour to imitate their manner of obedience And albeit we cannot attein to that full perfection which is in them yet we are to strive towards it and therefore we are not to content our selves with that smal measure whereunto we have atteined but still we are to labour that we may grow up in grace seeing whilest we live here we are in our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and growing age But let us come unto particulars 1. The Angels do the will of God in knowledge and so must we or else all our worship of God is but will-worship and all our religion but superstition Knowledge is the stern without which we rove and wander like a ship wanting a stern it is the light without which we walk in darknesse not knowing whither we go Without knowledge we have no faith and without faith it is impossible to please God And therefore miserable is our estate if we please our selves in ignorance 2. The Angels do the will of God sincerely uprightly labouring alwayes to approve their obedience to the Lord so must we obey the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not with eye-service as men-pleasers but from our soul and heart Ephes. 6. 6. Rom. 6. 17. in singlenesse and uprightnesse of heart labouring to approve not onely our outward actions but also our inward affections and cogitations to the Lord knowing that he looketh not as man looketh but he especially respecteth the heart and according to the disposition of the heart esteemeth of men Without this uprightnesse all our obedience is but hypocrisie and all the graces which we seem to have but glorious sinnes c. 3. The Angels do the will of God willingly and chearfully their whole delight being to do Gods will so must we worship the Lord with upright hearts and willing minds 1. Chron. 28. 9. knowing that forced obedience proceeding onely from servile fear as it is violent so it is but momentany and therefore but counterfeit But we must worship the Lord in faith love and hope and consequently with chearfulnesse willingnesse and delight for when the love of God is shed abroad in mens hearts by the holy Ghost men have assurance that their obedience and service is acceptable unto God and so they are encouraged in all chearfulnesse to offer their obedience as a free-will-offering to the Lord. First To whom much is forgiven they love much Luke 7. 47. and secondly those that have true love to them the commandments of God are not grievous 1. John 5. 3. the yoke of Christ is light Nihil difficile amanti Nothing is hard to a lover To Jacob his seven yeares troublesome service seemed to be short and pleasant Gen. 29. 20. If therefore we truly love God we will take delight to do his will And thirdly if we have assured hope of salvation by Christ and live in expectation of happinesse we shall contemne all the difficulties of this life as not worthy the glory that shall be revealed and joyfully proceed in our way to life because of the joy that is sâ—…t before us Let us therefore hold fast by this anchor for if we leave this hold we shall eftsoon fall away into worldlinesse whither the surges of worldly desires carry us And in this behalf as we are to imitate the example of the Angels so also of Jesus Christ whose meat it was to do his Fathers will John 4. 34. and therein also was his delight Psal. 40. 8. Facere voluntatem tuam Deus mi delector O my God I delight to do thy will Psal. 122. 1. Isai. 54. 13. 4. The holy Angels do the will of God readily speedily so ought we without delay put in execution the coÌ„mandments of God behaving our selves towards our heavenly Master as the Centurions servants to their master Matth. 8. 9. Doth the Lord call thee thou must answer with David the type of Christ Ecce venio Behold I come Psal. 40. 7. Doth the Lord bid thee seek his face answer with that heavenly echo of the Psalmist Psal. 27. 8. Thy face Lord will I seek It is the will of God that thou shouldst turn unto him break off without delay the course of thy sinne and turn unto the Lord. Knock at the doore of thy heart Open thine immortall gate that the King of glory may come in Doth he call thee to repentance to day If yee will heare his voyce harden not your hearts Deferre not repentance but to day before to morrow repent Seek the Lord whilest he may be found and call upon him whilest he is near Isai. 55. 6. Doth he call us to triall and affliction let us take up our crosse and
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my laws in their hearts and in their minds I will write them and their sinnes and iniquities I will remember no more And the covenant that the Lord made with Abraham concerning the promised seed was this That he would give us that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies that is Ephes. 1. 7. Col. 1. 14. having by Christ remission of our sinnes and justification we should worship him without fear in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of our life Luke 1. 73 74 75. And these are the benefits which should be preached in Christs name repentance and forgivenesse of sinnes Luke 24. 47. Seeing therefore the summe of all the benefits which in this life we receive by our blessed Saviour consisteth in these two we may be resolved that in these two the happinesse of a Christian in this life doth consist For whereas the Lord sware to Abraham that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed Gen. 22. 18. Zachary being filled with the holy Ghost expoundeth that blessednesse to consist in these two Luke 1. 73. And indeed whereas there are two degrees of our happinesse the one begun in this life the other complete in the life to come that is to be esteemed our happinesse in this life whereby the perfect happinesse of the life to come is obteined Now whom God hath chosen and called to salvation them he justifieth and whom he justifieth c. Rom. 8. 30. And this appeareth to be true also in the particulars Psal 32. 1. Revel 20. 6. Seeing therefore the benefits which we have by Christ in this life and consequently our happinesse consisteth in those spirituall graces which our Saviour here teacheth us to crave of God it followeth necessarily that both in our affections we should desire and in our judgements esteem these spirituall graces farre above all earthly and temporall things esteeming all other things as drosse and dung yea as losse in comparison thereof Phil. 3. 8 9 10. For what will all temporall benefits avail us if God do not forgive our sinnes and stablish us by his free Spirit Surely no more then the good pasture profiteth the beast that is fatted for the slaughter And therefore as these blessings are absolutely necessary to our salvation and of farre greater value then all temporall benefits so are they absolutely to be craved of God and with greater fervencie and affection But let us consider the order and the coupling of this petition with that which went before and also that which followeth Our Saviour teacheth us in the former place to crave temporall benefits as the lesse that our faith having been exercised in the lesse might be confirmed in the greater that is that we having learned to depend upon Gods providence for our maintenance in this life might the more firmly relie upon him for our justification and salvation for if we have not learned to trust in him for the lesse it is not likely that we should believe in him for the greater The order in respect of that which followeth standeth thus We are taught to desire freedome from the guilt of our sinnes before deliverance from the corruption because our reconciliation with God in Christ and justification by faith in order of nature goeth before our sanctification howsoever in time the beginning of our sanctification concurreth with justification From whence ariseth both an instruction for carnall men and a consolation for the godly For if justification goeth before sanctification then it is certain that we cannot be sanctified unlesse first we be justified and reconciled unto God in Christ. And this order the holy Ghost teacheth us Luke 1. 74. That being redeemed c. For untill our reconciliation as we our selves are enemies so all our actions are hatefull unto God And therefore men had not need to please themselves in their naturall estate and by their security suffer as much as in them lieth the bloud of Christ to fall upon the ground but rather to be most forward carefull and desirous to be reconciled unto God in Christ and that his merits and righteousnesse may be imputed unto them considering that whatsoever they do before they be reconciled unto God and justified is no better but sin whereby they hoard up wrath against the day of wrath c. The consolation which ariseth from hence is most singular For if men cannot die unto sinne unlesse first they be justified then those that labour to forsake their sinnes and truly purpose amendment of life and endevour to please God in dying to sinne and living to righteousnesse may be assured that they are justified by faith and reconciled to God in Jesus Christ c. And so much of the order Let us now consider of the coupling of this petition both with that which went before and also that which followeth with the former Give us this day our daily bread And forgive c. Which teacheth us that we should not so wholly be addicted to the commodities of this life but that we should withall and most principally labour for spirituall graces perteining to a better life There be many saith the Pâ—…almist which say Who will shew us any good that is any worldly profit c. but as touching the forgivenesse of their sinnes and their reconciliation with God in Christ as touching the application of Christs death and resurrection not onely to their justification but also their sanctification of these things they have no care nor desire c. But howsoever the world saith Who will shew us any good yet we must say But Lord lift thou â—…p the light of thy countenance upon us Shew thou thy self favourable and mercifull in forgiving our sinnes for that will bring peace of conscience and joy in the holy Ghost far exceeding all worldly comforts We must therefore not onely labour for the meat which perisheth but much more for the meat which endureth to everlasting life John 6. 27. For what would it profit us if we could gain the whole world if our sinnes being not forgiven us we should be amerced with the losse of our souls Mark 8. 36. With the latter Forgive us our sinnes c. And lead us not into temptation c. Which teacheth us that we are to desire as to be freed from the guilt of our sinnes so also from the corruptions because they are things that are inseparably coupled together forgiving of sinnes in God and forsaking of sinnes in us Therefore those which sever these things as most do deceive themselves Luke 1. 73 74. 2. Cor. 5. 17. Gal. 5. 24. Our Saviour as he is our redemption and justification so also he is our sanctification and therefore that which he did for us in his flesh he worketh in us by his spirit viz. a dying unto sin and a rising again unto
to satisfie for the least of our sinnes our Saviour hath taught us to say not with that servant Matth. 18. 26. Have patience Master I will satisfie but Lord remit takâ—… away and blot out our offenses Furthermore we are taught to pray that the Lord would remit our debts that is not onely forgive the fault but also remit the punishment in respect whereof sinnes are called debts And therefore it cannot be truly said that God forgiveth the fault and reteineth the punishment for which we our selves must satisfie either in this life or in purgatory For if God should requiâ—…e of us satisfaction for those sinnes which he pardoneth in Christ it would follow necessarily that either the sufferings of Christ were unsufficient or else that the Lord is unjust Moreover it is absurd that sinne being remitted the punishment should be reteined For sinne is the cause of punishment and the cause being taken away the effect also is removed And again whereas sinne is infinitely increased in respect of that infinite Majestie and justice of God which is violated sure it is that we cannot satisfie for it before we have endured endlesse punishment which will never be Whereas therefore our Saviour Christ teacheth us thus to pray he sheweth that we cannot be discharged from these our debts by our own satisfaction or merits or any other means but onely by the free remission of them and imputation of Christs righteousnesse And this is to be understood not onely of our great and grievous sinnes but also of our lesse offenses which the Papists call veniall and erroneously hold not to be mortall neither need the death and merits of Christ for their expiation but may by the holy-water-sprinkle or by episcopall benediction or by knocking of the breast be taken away As therefore every sinne great or small deserveth death and is also punished with death either in Christ or in the sinner himself and as the bloud of Christ doth purge us from all iniquitie 1. John 1. 7. so that by him we have remission of all our sinnes so are we to pray that the Lord would for the precious merits and righteousnesse of our Saviour Christ remit all our sinnes both more and lesse from which we could by no other means be delivered but by the merits of Christ. But here it may be objected Our sinnes were forgiven in baptisme Acts 2. 38. therefore we need not now the forgivenesse of them Some answer That because we sinne after baptisme therefore we ought after baptiâ—…me to pray that the Lord would forgive our sinnes But this answer is not sufficient considering that in baptisme is sealed the remission of sinnes not onely past but also for the time to come during the whole course of our life For otherwise baptisme had need to be reiterated I answer therefore That we feeling the burden of our sinnes pray that the forgivenesse of sinnes which was represented and sealed unto us in baptisme may indeed be granted unto us and that we may feel in our selves the fruit and effect of our baptisme For we must not think that the Sacraments absolutely conferre grace to every receiver but onely upon those conditions which are conteined in the promises of the Gospel whereof baptisme is a seal Now the Gospel promiseth remission of sinnes and salvation onely to them that believe and therefore the Sacrament sealeth and assureth remission onely to them that believe For we ask forgivenesse onely for the righteousnesse of Christ but the righteousnesse of Christ is there imputed to righteousnesse where it is apprehended by faith In which sense we are said to be justified by faith alone and by faith to have remission of sinnes And therefore in this petition we desire that the Lord would work in us true faith that being united unto Christ and made partakers of his merits we may have not onely forgivenesse of sinnes but also assurance thereof by the anointment of the holy Ghost the Spirit of adoption crying in our hearts Abba Father c. And because none attein to that measure of assurance but that it is mingled with some doubting therefoâ—…e all had need to pray that the Lord would increase their faith and more and more assure them of the pardon of their sinnes Vs. This teacheth us to pray not onely for the remission of our own sins but also of our brethren it being a duty of charity to desire and to further the salvation of our brethren And this duty as it belongeth to all so especially to those that are governours of others either in the Church or Commonwealth Examples of Moses who oft stood in the gap Psal. 106. 23. Exod. 32. 21 32. Num. 14. 19. Samuel 1. Sam. 12. 23. Neither are we to pray for our friends and well-willers alone but also for them that hate and persecute us according to the precept and practice of our Saviour Matth. 5. 44. Luke 23. 34. and the holy martyr Stephen Acts 7. 60. And as we are to pray the Lord to forgive them so must we as willingly forgive them as we desire to be forgiven of the Lord neither can we in truth of heart desire God to forgive them if we do not Duties in prayer The duties which here we are taught to perform in prayer are either more peculiar to this kind of deprecation or common The former is Confession which must concurre with Deprecation of pardon and goeth before pardon as appeareth Psal. 32. 3 5. Prov. 28. 13. 1. John 1. 9. Num. 5. 7. Examples 2. Sam. 12. 13. Luke 15. 21. Now this confession is to be made of unknown sinnes generally as Psal. 19. 12. of known sinnes particularly Isai. 59. 12 13. And to this end it will be profitable to examine our hearts and our lives by the law of God taking a view of the duties therein commanded and vices forbidden that we may particularly see and acknowledge what duties we have omitted and what vices we have committed The common duties That we pray in fervency faith and perseverance That we may pray in fervency we must have both a true sense of our wants and earnest desire to have the same supplyed The wants which we are to bewail are 1. our manifold sinnes and transgressions for which we are to be grieved that we have by them displeased and dishonoured God And to increase this godly sorrow in us we are First to consider and meditate of Gods manifold benefits undeservedly bestowed upon us and our unthankfull behaviour towards him c. Secondly we are to desire the Lord that he would poure upon us the spirit of deprecation that we may with bitternesse bewail our sinnes whereby we have so violated the justice of God that nothing could be found sufficient to appease or to satisfie the same but the death of Christ whom we by our sins have pierced Zech. 12. 10. Thirdly we are to consider the misery whereunto our sinnes make us subject both in this
in our selves then the firebrands of hell and yet withall we must relie upon Christ and his merits being perswaded that notwithstanding our manifold sinnes yet the Lord will receive us into his love and favour imputing unto us the righteousnesse of his Sonne and covering us therewith as with a garment If thus we believe in Christ we need not doubt of the pardon of our sins because Christ having satisfied the justice of his Father for all the sinnes of them which believe in him the remission therefore of sinnes to them that believe is a work not onely of mercy but also of justice 3. If we would truly make this prayer viz. in hatred of sinne have any assurance to our own souls that our sinnes are forgiven we must repent of those sinnes which we desire to be remitted and forsake those sinnes which we would have the Lord forgive Ezek. 18. 21 22. At what time soever c. Prov. 28. 13. He that confesseth his sinnes and forsaketh them c. And therefore as Isaiah exhorteth chap. 55. 7. let the wicked forsake his way c. If therefore we would effectually crave the pardon of our sins we must have a true purpose of heart and resolution to forsake them And if we would have assurance that according to our prayer our sinnes be forgiven we must have a true endeavour to leave them and to perform the contrary duties If therefore we have neither purpose in our hearts nor endeavour in our lives to forsake our sinnes we may not look that the Lord will pardon them If in my heart I regard wickednesse c. Psal. 66. 18. For the Lord heareth not sinners that is who do not repent of their sinnes nor have a true purpose to leave them John 9. 31. Prov. 28. 13. 4. If we make this prayer in faith and truly believe in God for the forgivenesse of our sinnes this perswasion will have this effect in us to make us fear to sinne and by sinne to displease and dishonour God There is mercy with thee that thou mayest be feared Psal. 130. 4. The bounty of the Lord must draw us to repentance Rom. 2. 4. Nay further those that believe their sinnes are forgiven them and are perswaded of Gods love and favour shed abroad in their hearts by the holy Ghost they cannot choose but love him much who hath forgiven them much Luke 7. 47. and shew forth their love in keeping his commandments 5. If in prayer we unfeignedly desire faith and assurance of the forgivenesse of our sinnes then we will be most carefull in our lives to use and to use aright the means of begetting and increasing this faith as the hearing of the word receiving of the Sacraments c. 6. If we truly desire reconciliation with God in Christ then will we seek in all things to please him For if we please our selves in displeasing him as the very nature of sinne is to displease God how can we perswade our selves that we are reconciled unto God or desire so to be 7. If we would have any assurance that our sinnes are forgiven we must be ready to forgive our neighbours the offenses which they commit against us For if ye saith Christ Matth. 6. 14. forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you but if ye do not c. But of this more in the reason Here therefore is discovered the hypocrisie of those men 1. who crave pardon of sinne in a Pharisaicall conceit of their own perfection freedome from sinne 2. who have no true hatred of sinne nor purpose to leave it 3. who please themselves in displeasing God and yet would seem to desire reconciliation with God 4. who desire faith and yet neglect and contemne the means 5. who with the ungracious servant looking to have pardon of ten thousand talents of his master would not remit a small debt to his fellow-servant Matth. 18. 28. whom he ought to have loved for his Masters sake c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These words are a solemn profession unto God of our brotherly love serving both to confirm our faith in obteining pardon and also to testifie our love to God who hath forgiven us much in the love of our brethren for his sake For whereas divers men making this prayer for pardon of sinne either do not believe at all the pardon of their sinne or else deceive themselves with an opinion of faith not loving him of whom they look for pardon nor their brethren for his sake but with the ungracious servant Matth. 18. 28. exact small debts of their brethren and revenge offenses committed against them as though they could love God and yet hate their brother therefore our Saviour teacheth us to adde to the petition this protestation that if we be able to make it in truth we may be assured of the forgivenesse of our sinnes and not be deceived as many are in our assurance First therefore because we are so full of infidelity and diffidence that we are hardly brought to believe in particular the forgivenesse of our own sinnes and consequently to make this prayer in faith our Saviour teacheth us to use this notable argument not so much to move God as to confirm our selves drawn from the lesse to the greater As we also forgive c. or as it is more plainly set down in Luke For even we also forgive c. And the reason standeth thus If we who have not so much pitie in regard of thine abundant mercy as is a drop of water in comparison of the Ocean sea if we I say be readie to forgive the offenses and injuries done against us then no doubt thou wilt forgive our offenses which we from the bottom of our hearts confesse unto thee with deprecation of pardon But even we Lord whose mercy is as nothing in comparison of thine are readie to remit offenses committed against us and therefore as we earnestly crave pardon so we do unfeignedly believe that thou wilt forgive us our sinnes The connexion of the proposition is necessarie For as we say Quod in minori valet valet etiam in majori That which is of force in the lesser is of force also in the greater If a drop of pity in us doth wash away the offense of our brother how much more shall the multitude of his mercies wash away our offenses And our Saviour reasoneth elsewhere Matth. 7. 11. If yee which are evil can give good things to your children how much more c. If therefore our consciences do testifie unto us the truth of the assumption That we are readie to forgive them that offend us we may also be assured of the truth of the conclusion That God also forgiveth our sinnes 2. Whereas many abuse the mercy of God whereof they presume for the pardoning of their sinnes dealing unthankfully with God in cruelty revenge exercised upon their brethren and so deceive