them nor forsake them Indeed wee must vse the meanes to serue Gods prouidence but for the successe of things wee must wholly put God in trust with the same and he will assuredly doe that which shall be good for vs. Vers 3. Yee aske and receiue not because yee aske amisse Here hee preuenteth an obiection that they might make namely this Obiection We are iniuriouslie dealt with in that wee are blamed for not praying for we crie and call vpon God day and night and yet are neuer the better Answer That is true saith he but yee receiue not because ye aske amisse asking such things as you may abuse to Gods dishonour and that you purpose so to abuse for you will spend them vpon your lusts And this is the cause why God reiecteth your praiers Doct. 6 whence the Doctrine is that God denieth vs carnall requests It is most iust and equall that our praiers should be reiected when we are more earnest in asking earthly things which may bee abused then heauenly and sauing graces which cannot bee abused and aime at seruing our owne turnes in the requests that we make rather then at the glorifying of Gods holy name Reason 1 The reason hereof is plaine for such cries are not in truth praiers nor so esteemed in Gods account Hos 7. 14. They haue not saith he cried vnto me with their hearts when they houled on their beds they assemble themselues for corne and wine and they rebell against me These Iewes maruelled that God did not helpe them when they cried vnto him but God reckons and calleth these their cryings howlings and not prayers because they were only grieued for their afflictions but nothing touched for their sinnes which brought the hand of God vpon them And they were much more desirous of corne and wine then of the fauour of God and the graces of his spirit Also the praiers that are only spent about carnall things come not from the loue of God but from the loue of the world 1. Ioh. 2. 15. According to the greatnsse of our desire after earthly things so is the greatnesse of our pride now God wee know resisteth the proud and raiseth vp quickeneth and comforteth the lowlie and as any man is more humble so hee doth more thirst after and labour for the grace of God and therefore he onely is fitted for it and all other mercies with it Vse 1 For instruction When wee appoach vnto the throne of grace in prayer let vs be sure that we bee most earnest for heauenly things for that will bee a testimonie vnto our consciences that wee loue God more then wee loue the world And this benefit we shall bee certaine of that wee cannot bestow them vpon our lusts for faith cannot bee bestowed vpon our lusts seeing it purifieth the heart repentance Act. 15. cannot be bestowed vpon our lusts because that killeth our lusts and so may wee say for euerie other grace of God euerie one of which is absolutely good in it selfe and makes those good that are possessers of them Whereas all earthly things are either good or euill according to the mind and affection of him that receiueth and vseth them If they meet with a strong and inordinate desire they corrupt and poyson it further if with an hart well ordered and disposed they better it and further it in grace and godlinesse But now further concerning spirituall things wee must vnderstand that they are not to be asked in words alone but we must bring before God the feruent desires of our soules and intreat them as things that will indeede most content vs. Trueth it is that ease and pleasure and credit vvould best please our nature but wee must crosse out flesh lest our petitions be found carnall and so bee reiected by the Lord farther we must striue to haue this witnesse both from God and from our owne soules that if we might obtaine what we would the desires of our soules are to haue the fauour of God and the chiefe fruits thereof euen Loue and Ioy and Peace Temperance Patience and the rest of the graces of Gods spirit Which if wee can in any good measure find in our selues wee may be comforted in assurance of the performance of the promise That seeking first Mat. 6. 33 the kingdome of heauen and the righteousnes thereof all other things shall be ministred vnto vs. Verse 4. Yee adulterers and adulteresses know ye not c. Obiection They might reply vpon that which hath bin spoken saying What if we doe desire outward things that vvee may liue as pleasantly and with as great credit as others doe is that any such great matter Answer To this hee maketh answere with great indignation saying Yee Adulterers and adulteresses knowe yee not that the loue of the world is the enmitie of God As if hee had said Haue yee heard so many Sermons beene at so many Conferences read and heard so much of the Scritures and doe you not know thus much that the loue of the world is enmitie with God Doe you thinke that hee will deale with you as an husband when you are filthie Harlots Doe you imagine that hee vvill giue you that that may maintaine and vphold you in your pride and ambition earthly affections No surely he that in such sort followeth the world is a friend vnto the world and therfore an enemie to God and God will shew himselfe no friend vnto him Doct. 7 The loue of the world is spirituall adulterie The doctrine hence to be learned is that It is a most dangerous and damnable adulterie to set our minds on earthly things There is a reason hereof in the Text. It bringeth vs out of fauour with God and maketh vs enemies vnto him is it not a dangerous thing for the creature to stand in opposition against his Creator This spirituall adulterie is worse then that against the seuenth commandement for this is against the first Table that against the second Besides when Dauid liued in that sinne of adultery he could not be said to be the enemie of God but whosoeuer liueth in this spiritual whoredom is proclaimed to be the Lords foe For such doe withdraw their hearts from God and so bring the curse and vengeance of God vpon themselues Ier. 17 without timely repentance Therefore it is said Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee whether Psal 73. 27 it be after pleasures or cōmodities or preferments about the which almost all the world is set aworke and being so inclined all that can be deuised is little enough nay too little to please them they think nothing sufficient that is done for them and that all should doe seruice to them they to none being as gowtie leggs that must haue all the anointing and binding and looking to they being able to doe nothing againe in way of requitall For instruction that vvee should bee exceedingly humbled as for other great corruptions
not so tamed as it should be I am not able to maister it grant thy strength therefore vnto thy seruant that I may be able to preuaile against it Vse 2 Secondly this is for instruction that if euer wee would liue comfortablie in regard of our selues or others wee should labour to haue the command of our owne hearts and minds It is a maruellous errour in men and women to thinke if I had so much liuing so much credit and respect and withall a strong and healthfull bodie then my heart would be at quiet this is a foule and monstrous delusion what will outward things heale a sinfull soule It is as absurd as if a man that hath his arme or his legge broken should say Oh if I had a sute of cloth of Gold or a paire of silke stockings or my chamber hanged with veluet I should feele no paine euery man would thinke such a one out of his wits because his paine is within his bodie which those outward things cannot remoue so it is with euery strong affection and vnmastred desire they are corrupt humors cleauing vnto the soule and therefore let the parties be shifted hither and thither and haue their estate mended and their reputation bettered yet if they bee not healed within they are neuer the neerer to any sound contentment Quest How to master strong affections But how should wee attaine to the mastering of these boisterous affections Answer First we must mortifie the deeds of the flesh by the spirit the best haue flesh in them but they must bee euer knocking of it downe Now then we mortifie the flesh by Rom. 8. the spirit when we bring spirituall reasons against the lusts thereof and seeke to quench the flame thereof by powring water vpon it and taking away the fuell that might maintain it A man may haue perswasions from his friends but those will not kill his carnall desires but the perswasions of the spirit will and therefore wee should vse the arguments of Gods word for the crucifying of our flesh But many take a contrary course when they feele themselues stirred they aggrauate all the euils that are vpon them and all the wrongs that are in their conceit offered vnto them their memorie will forget no circumstance of them Neither will their tongues faile to amplifie them at the full and hereby they imagine to ease themselues but alas this is to adde lust to lust and to heape more drie wood on the fire that burneth too vehemently alreadie and therefore let them vse Gods meanes or neuer looke to liue quiet and peaceable daies A second meanes to bring our boisterous affections into subiection is to liue and labour diligently in a calling for labour is appointed to humble the sonnes of men and whosoeuer doth not vse this medicine may quickly make worke enough for a whole towne for idle persons are alwaies passionate and when they haue nothing else to do they fall to conceits and surmises and suspicions and iealousies and when the least occasion is offered out comes all the filthie matter that hath beene breeding within them Thirdly that we may get victorie ouer the ill affections that stirre within vs wee must consider that wee are Pilgrimes 1. Pet. 2. 11 Many are verie impatient and crie out of their miserie that it is such as they neuer looke to liue merry day more but what neede they trouble them selues about that it may be they shall not liue an houre more a Pilgrim is in his Inne at night and gone in the morning and so may they and why therefore should they make such a long and tedious matter of their crosses If they haue assurance of heauen their momentanie afflictions are nothing in comparison of that eternall crown of glory which shall bee bestowed vpon them If men would cease looking and lusting after the temporall things which are seene and fasten their hopes and desires vpon the eternall things which are not seene they would esteeme and reckon their heauiest griefes to bee verie light and their longest afflictions to be short and momentanie 2. Cor. 4 17. 18. Fourthly and lastly let vs consider of that which was mentioned before viz. that fleshly lusts doe fight against our 1 Pet. 2. 1 soules Those that are in thraldome vnto them thinke it good husbandrie to yeeld vnto them and hope to better their estate thereby but do they know what God saith in this matter Hee telleth them that they make warre against their soules they blindfold their minds that they cannot see into spirituall things they make their hearts fat and senselesse that neither threatnings nor promises iudgements nor mercies will any whit at all moue them Now when wee find in our selues these hurtfull affections and dangerous lusts and we doe not onely feele them but others also far much the worse thereby were it not great madnes to nourish them still within vs Therefore let vs rather vse these and all other good meanes to suppresse them then any meanes at all to cherish and strengthen the same Vers 2. Ye lust and haue not In these words he setteth out the absurditie of other lusts by the ill effects they haue along and tedious seedes time but all their labour and toile comes to nothing they are altogether disappointed of their expected haruest whence the Doctrine is that Doct. 3 Nothing is gotten by yeelding to lust Whosoeuer yeeldeth vnto his lustes neuer makes a thriuing nor a sauing bargaine thereby but the more he lusts the more he lackes and the more eager his desires are the more and greater his wants are likely to be Reason 1 First because the loue of earthly things makes God his enemy For hee that loues the World the loue of God is not in him but hee withdrawes his heart from God and 1. Iohn 2. 15 Iere. 17 goeth a whooring after the world the setting of our affections vpon the creature maketh vs to be estranged from the Creator Secondly as the desire of earthly things makes men impious against God so doth it make them iniurious towards men He that hasteth to bee rich cannot be innocent Pro. and he that is greedie of gaine troubleth his owne house and that which is said of the excessiue desire of gaine holdes as true in all other sinnefull lustes that he that is greedie of pleasure or credit or any the like is still a troubler and disquieter of those with whom he liues because first his owne heart is poisoned and being distempered within he must needs shew his distemper without Therefore the more God loues vs the more he wil crosse vs so long as we set our hearts on lying vanities for hee knowes that if wee had them in that manner and measure as wee desire they would turne to our owne and others exceeding great hurt and disaduantage For the more we desire any earthly thing the more we shall abuse it as the more we desire any heauenly thing the
better we shal vse it Therefore is it righteous with God to crosse vs in our Gen. 30. 1 affections as he did Rahel she must needs haue children in all the haste or else she would die in a passion Alas shee was in hard case to die and in ill case to haue children for at that time she would haue made Gods of her children and an Idoll of God But afterwards when she had prayed and humbled her selfe God gaue her children because then shee was fit to receiue them And that is the reason why God delayes long and puts off his seruants from year to yeare euen because they are vnfit to be partakers of his blessings sooner he could afford them present paiment but he well considers that the things which the flesh much affects it would much abuse Isaac prayed for a sonne twentie yeares at length when Gen. 25. 20. 26 he had gotten the victorie of himselfe and was content to wait as long as God would haue him the Lord forthwith granted his request and so dealeth hee yet still with his dearest children Vse 1 Sith boisterous lusts doe both deserue and bring vpon men manifold wants this serues for instruction that if we be pinched with necessities and restrained of many things that we would full faine haue let vs examine whether our desires be not too immoderate towards those things and too eagerly set vpon them and if vpon triall made wee finde that it is so indeed let vs know that we are not fit for them Therfore let vs neuer complaine of others the world is hard and mens hearts are hard but let vs complaine of our selues I want good affections I want good preparation for Gods blessings I am a ground that haue many rank weedes in mee and all that while God hath somwhat else to doe then to sowe the seed of comfort on me The next way to haue the world is to deny the world would a man be rich let him be content to be poore would a man inioy his health and strength let him so vse the meanes of recouering his health as withall to be content to remaine sickly and weake if it so seeme best to his heauenly father c. But if we desire temporall riches more then spirituall and the health of the body more then the health of the soule it is iust we should haue penurie and not plenty diseased and not healthfull bodies Whereas if we can bring our willes to bee subiect vnto Gods it shall not bee said to vs Yee lust and haue not but the Lord will fulfill the desires of those that feare him Otherwise Psal 45 though our desires were granted our soules would be as sicke or more sicke then they were before Vse 2 A second vse of this is to teach vs to bee content that God by many and grieuous crosses should master our intemperate lusts for the way to all prosperitie is to be broken of our headie and sturdy affections Let vs also desire to be in their companie who wil deale most plainly and roundly against our corruptions not wish to conuerse with such as will tell vs indeede you are hardly vsed they deale very iniuriously with you in that they do not more respect you in regard of your place of your parts and of your education c. Alas what is this but to cast oyle vpon the fire and to make those lusts a great deale stronger which weere too too violent before such comforters may please vs for the present but they will bring vs smart in stead of ease and trouble in stead of peace in the end But as for those that will set themselues with all their might against our lusts apply sharp corrasiues where they perceiue much festered and dead flesh of all other they are to be esteemed the best and truest and most faithfull friends Ye enuie and haue indignation and cannot obtaine Whereas they might deny that they had such lusts in them hee proueth it by this that they did enuy one another as if he should haue said that which I affirmed in vvordes I vvill make good by your deeds you enuy that another should be lookt after that another should haue more gay apparell a better name a better estate then your selues doth not this cleerly shew that your hearts are full of lust when they are so full of enuy for enuy is the very froth of lust Doct. 4 Wordlings are still vexed with enuy The doctrine hence to bee gathered is this that those that set their affections vpon earthly things are not onely subiect to this miserie that they shall bee alwaies in want but they shall withall bee euermore vexed at the prosperity of others they shall be stil in torture at home and abroad and wheresoeuer they are for such as set their mindes on the things of this world cannot chuse but repine when any thing goes from them vnto others they think all lost that they themselues cannot enioy for whereas the propertie of Christian loue is not to seeke it owne things it is the very nature of selfe-loue onely and wholly to seeke it 1. Cor. 13 owne things and if it misse of them it vvill cause the parties to grudge and repine This may be obserued in Saul when once Dauid vvas in credit aboue him he had few quiet daies after but vvas still troubling of himselfe and the whole land about Dauid The like may be seene in the Pharisies they could not liue if Christ liued and why Christ caried away the credit from them and therfore they neuer ceased persecuting him vntill they had depriued him of his very life So the Philistims being couetous enuied Isaac and grew so mad against him because they saw him thriue beyond themselues that they vvould hurt the whole countrey and themselues also rather then he should prosper too fast and therefore they dammed vp the wells that his seruants had Gen. 26. 15 digged vvhich in those hot countries vvere of exceding great vse So Rahel being possessed vvith an immoderate desire of children enuied her sister Leah because shee was Gen. 30. 3 fruitfull her owne barrennesse did not so much discontent her as her sisters fruitfulnesse and therfore rather then Leah should goe beyond her she would haue her husband to defile himselfe with her maid Many such Rahels there are in the world who are not so much discontented and grieued at their own meanenesse as at others highnesse at their owne basenesse in apparell as at the new fashions of others c. Vse 1 Which may teach vs when we find enuie in our selues to take notice that there is in vs a maruellous loue of earthly things Many men and women if they should bee askt the question whether they lusted after earthly things or not would answere nay they hope they haue not heard so many Sermons nor made so many prayers to so little purpose that now at length they should be ouertaken with
the loue of such trifles but how say you to enuie doth not that worke vpon you sometimes doth not others health others estimation others aduancement make you as it were sicke now and then indeed that they cannot wel deny then you must needs confesse that you are infected with lust If Rahel had not beene led with an eager desire of children she would neuer haue enuied her sister for bearing of children and therefore those haue a sure testimony of a sound pure heart that can be content with their owne corne and wine and oyle and that resolue vvith themselues So I may haue peace with God and with mine owne conscience I will neuer trouble my selfe much what others haue Let God keepe me from sinne while I liue from hell when I die and I shall doe well enough haue great cause to reioyce in God and to be thankfull for my portion Obiection But heere Gods deare children may obiect saying I finde a loue vnto my credit and commoditie and ease still Answer So wee shall as long as wee carie flesh about vvith vs and the more pure the heart is the sooner and better will it spie blemishes in it selfe but if we can keepe our selues from enuying at others wealth and credit c. it is an infallible mark that the loue of earthly things doth not rule and raigne in vs. Yee fight and warre and get nothing because yee aske not They might thinke doth not God carie a hard hand against vs sith wee desire so much and haue so little no saith the Apostle you rather carrie an ill heart towards him for you vse all meanes of procuring your own miserie but no meanes at all of obtaining Gods mercie and therefore Yee get nothing because ye aske not Which is one principall meanes of pulling downe Gods blessings vpon his seruants Doct. 5 Prayer is the best meanes of promotion Doctrine Prayer is the best meanes to bee prouided of all things needefull for this life and the life to come God is a good housholder and if his children would receiue good things from him they must not fall together by the eares nor grow to brawling and contending one with another for that is the next way to make their Father scourge them all But they must betake themselues to prayer and become humble and earnest suters vnto their Father which is both the easiest and the surest course God Reason 1 hath promised that if we aske we shall obtaine Mat. 7. 7. Obiection But some might say I am a sinner compassed with many infirmities and frailties and how then can I looke for hearing at his hands Answer Why saies Christ if you that are euill can giue good things vnto your children how much more shall your heauenly Luk. 11. 10. 12. 12. 13 Father c. Though you see faults in your children and there be the like in your selues yet you can bee liberall towards them how much more will God shewe himselfe gratious to his children being goodnesse it selfe and able to make his children as good as he would haue them to be The prodigall sonne may be a paterne of Gods fauourable dealing in this behalfe For when hee had lost his wealth his peace his credit and all hauing drowned himselfe in vile and abominable lusts what had hee wherewith to helpe himselfe euen the vnfained requests of an humble and penitent hart which neuer can want happie successe when they are presented to a mercifull and gratious father what his successe was wee may reade at large Luk. 15. Hence commeth that exhortation of the Apostle In nothing bee carefull but in all things let your requests bee Phil. 4. 6 made knowne vnto God c. Obiection But I haue many debts to pay and many burthens to beare and what good will prayer do me in these straits Answer Very great good for if you can lay open your heart before Answer God in prayer and thanksgiuing the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding such as a naturall man cannot conceiue nor a regenerate man till hee haue felt it shall keepe your hartes and mindes in Christ Iesus that is in a blessed communion with him that look what Christ hath you shall be surâ—â—o haue haue you no power in your selfe you shall haue it in Christ Haue you no wealth in your house Christ hath enough for you in his hand but all our woe comes from this that we lose our communion with him for want of faithfull and feruent prayer Vse 1 For the reproofe of our great negligence vnbeleefe and coldnesse in prayer thence it is that wee haue manie wants because we want the spirit of prayer and seeke vnto other helpes rather then vnto our heauenly Father If children should runne from their parents to seruants and still be crying and complaining to them their parents would not endure it and if such children should bee still bewailing their case that neuer any were in such miserie as they none would pitie them haue they not a good and a rich father would men say that would haue them to seeke vnto him for reliefe and maintenance and cannot endure that they should seeke vnto others If it be thus with naturall parents how much more is it with our heauenly Father who is farre more ready to heare and helpe then the nearest friends in the world For when they will not afford vs reliefe hee will and when they are vnkind hee will shewe himselfe most kind vnto vs and therefore haue we vnkindnesse from men that wee might draw neare to God himselfe and goe from those broken Cesternes which can hold no water to the fountaine of liuing waters where we may drinke freelie without restraint and haue all our wants abundantly supplied Vse 2 This is for instruction that if we would speed well wee should vse the meanes of speeding well for if we be plentifull in prayer we shall be plentifull in comfort according Iohn 16. 24 to that of our Sauiour Aske that your ioy may be full Vse 3 Thirdly here is matter of comfort for those that are able to powre out their soules before God in prayer though there bee neuer so many stormes of sorrow they shall bee sufficiently sheltred in the middest of all It is a grosse conceit for men to thinke Alas my case is hard I haue no friends no money no abilitie to labour in my vocation c. But haue you the spirit of prayer If you haue you are in an happie estate for if wee would consider of things aright who is in hard case but hee that hath an hard heart And who is in good case but hee that hath a good conscience and a heart full of good meditations which hee is euer and anon readie to poure out in Gods presence They that set not their friends nor themselues on worke so much as they set their faith aworke they are the blessed people they may assure themselues that God will not faile