10.22 Jam. 4.8 Let us draw near with a true heart Draw nigh to God viz. in prayer of Faith He is not far from every one of us nor we from him for in him we live and move and have our being Acts 17.27 28. but then in a special manner we draw near to him when we put up our suits and supplications to him A Suppliant to a Prince does then draw near to him when he makes his Address and presents his Suit to him A Childe draws near to his Father when he comes to ask something of him So do we to our Soveraign Prince and Father when we bring our Petitions to him For opening of which let me shew 1. What it is to draw near to God when we pray to him 2. In what manner we are to draw near to him when we make request to him 3. Why we are thus to draw near to him 4. What use we are to make of it Quest 1. What is it to draw near to God in Prayer Ans 1. Negatively 2. Affirmatively Negatively 1. It is not to draw near with our lips when our hearts are far from him Isa 29.13 or as Jeremy tells God Thou art near in their mouth and far from their reins Jer. 12.2 The man is as his heart is Solomon sayes Prov. 23.7 If the heart of a man therefore be far from God in Prayer though he be near with his mouth he is not near God in the duty If there be any defect in the chief Wheel of a Clock within it will not strike right so if the heart be wanting which is the chief Wheel to set all a going in the duty of Prayer there will be no right stroke given there 's no drawing near to God when the heart is gone there must be something within else the duty of Prayer is but a dumb idol 2. It is not to draw near with multitude of words as if God made any account of them he cares not for being loaden with words they should be few when we pray to him Eccles 5.2 Mat. 6.7 We may be far from God when we pour out most words before him This is not to draw near to God when we word it with him Wise men will have us speak in way of suit to them in a few words so the wise God Some Princes have thrown away long Petitions and God as little regards length of Prayers except there be something else joyned with them 3. It is not to come with loud expressions when we pray before him Loud crying in the ears of God is not to draw near to God They are nearer God that silently whisper in his ears and tell him what they want and what they would have of him They have the Kings ear not that call loudest but those that speak softly to him as those of the Council and Bed-chamber do So they are nearest God and have his ear most that speak softly to him in Prayer Loud cries of Beggars are not heard of men no more are they regarded of God Isa 1.15 A man will say sometimes I should have heard thee if thou hadst not spoken so loud what may God then say to loud speaking hypocrites 4. It is not to speak mournfully in the ears of God there are those that are far from God that do so Hos 7.14 the Prophet speaks of those that howled upon their beds when they cried not to the Lord with their hearts They may be far from God that mourn in his ears as if they were near to him Some are like Stage-players that act the part of Mourners onely when they are before the Lord these he looks not at as such as draw near to him Even hypocrites may roar as Bears and mourn sore as Doves Isa 59.11 Every mournful Ditty is not good Musick with men nor beast-like roaring Melody in the ears of God 5. It is not to seek him when he does afflict them Isa 26.16 this is to flatter him with their lips rather then to draw near to him Psal 78.34 35 36. A Slave that cares not to come near to his Master when he is buffetted and beaten will fall down before him A Dog when he is cudgelled will crouch before him that smites him It is a forced drawing near to God when his hand is lifted up against them when the Rod and Staff is taken up then to bow and bend onely is that that the worst of men will come up to as we see in Pharaoh Saul and many others 6. It is not to pray to him when it is too late to seek to him when the date is out Many shall seek to enter in sayes Christ when they come too late and shall not be able Luke 13.24 The foolish Virgins lost their time and came too late when the door was shut Mat. 25.10 11 12. They do not draw near to God that miss the season that slip the opportunity of coming before him There is a time when he may be found Isa 55.6 and a time when he will not be found there is a time when he is nigh and we may draw nigh to him ibid. and there is a time when he is far off and when we cannot draw near to him They that observe not their time lose their market among men and so do they that slack their opportunity lose this blessed market of trading with God and drawing near to him 2. Affirmatively To draw near to God is 1. To come in faith when we pray to him for that is it that brings us near to him Heb. 10.22 This brings us into the Kings Presence and lets us have his ear and heart too The King hath brought me into his Chambers sayes the Spouse Cant. 1.4 But how by the foot of faith coming to him Joh. 6.35 This is the Eye whereby we look upon him and take our full views of him and see his beauty Isa 45.22 If ever we draw near to God it is by Faith it ushers us and our prayers into his sweet presence When faith is most upon the wing in prayer then we are ever nearest God 2. To draw near to God is to come in the Name of Jesus Christ and to ask what we pray for for his sake Heb. 7.19 The law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope did whereby we draw nigh to God that better hope is Jesus Christ All our Spiritual Sacrifices must be offered upon this golden Altar all our Prayers must be put up in his Name By him sayes the Apostle let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually Heb. 13.15 He it is that hath the golden Censer and with his much incense offers it with the prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar which is before the Throne Revel 8.3 It is by his mediation and intercession that our Prayers come before God and are accepted They come to be sweet odours by his incense v. 4. and Rev. 5.8 This is to draw near to God to
Saints upon the golden Altar prevails for any thing and hence it is that he sayes Joh. 14.13 14. and he repeats it twice I will do it I will do it Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what great regard the Lord hath to the Prayers of his people put up to him that he will sometimes give them the very same thing that they ask of him Prayer of Faith is that that is very pleasing to him Cant. 2.14 and accepted of him 1 Pet. 2.5 or else he would never give us in kinde what we ask of him it is musick and melody in his ears or else he would not give us the same thing that we desire of him 2. We see with what alacrity and chearfulness we should come before the Lord in Prayer for we are sure to speed and sometimes to have the very thing that we seek unto him for it is but ask and have and who then would not be encouraged to pray to him The little Birds lift up their heads and eyes when they take in a drop or two into their mouthes Oh how chearfully then should we lift up our eyes to heaven to the God of Heaven that gives us not drops but that thing in kinde that we ask of him out of which we day drink abundantly and be satisfied 3. We see what wrong they do to themselves that restrain prayer before God Job 15.4 they miss of many a fair blessing that they might carry home with them yea in the things that they desire that they might enjoy They spare to speak and spare to speed they might have what they would did they bring their Petitions with them They need be careful for nothing could they in every thing make their requests known to God Phil. 4.6 Could men but pray and leave their Petitions with the Lord they might have what they desire given in to them but their restraint of prayer before him causeth a restraint of blessings that might be poured into their bosoms 4. We see that God mindes whatever it is that we pray to him for for he gives sometimes the very thing that we ask of him Princes may sometimes take their Suiters Petitions into their hands but afterward lay them aside and never look into them but our God does not so but he considers well what we speak in his ears and grants the very thing we pray for Prayer is of more reckoning with him then to lay aside the Petitions of his Suppliants and never regard what is contained in them Psal 102.17 5. We see how willing we should be to grant the desires in kinde that others make to us if we be able and have it by us this is to be like God himself for so does he to us Mat. 5.42 We fall short this way but we have no such pattern to imitate as God is and who would not be like to God It is the glory of a man the more he resembleth the God above it is an honour to him that comes nearest to him in Workmanship that is the rarest and choicest Artificer Oh what is it then to come up to that perfection in some measure that is in God himself it's a rare thing to be a follower of him 6. We see that if God give us all we ask in kinde then we are to suit our thanks according to the benefits bestowed upon us If he hath given us signal mercies so should our praises be we should render to him according to the benefits done to us Herein Hezekiah failed 2 Chron. 32.24 25. he was sick and prayed unto the Lord who spake to him and gave him a sign but Hezakiah rendred not according to the benefit done to him We must take heed of such Ingratitude Heathens could not bear unthankfulness Ingratum si dixeris omnia dixeris Oh how then should God bear it Our duty is to render parallel thanks to Gods benefits signal thanks for signal mercies It is a shame to be behinde in thanks to him who is so much before-hand in bounty to us in giving us the same things we ask of him 7. We see that if God do not give us alwayes what we ask there is some great cause for it either we have provoked him so that he will not Deut. 3.24 25 26. or else it is not good for us Psal 34.10 84.11 or else he hath some greater blessing to bestow upon us as to give Moses entrance into the heavenly Canaan though he might not go into earthly Canaan or else he hath at least that to give which is equivalent and that that may be every way as conducible to us as if we had the thing it self but ordinarily except in these and such like cases he gives us the very thing we ask of him 8. We see what love we owe to him for answering our desires in the kinde of them We would love him that gave us our desires that we asked what love then should he have All the Springs of our love are too little for him But we spake of that before and therefore give but a touch of it here 9. We see that if we inlarge our desires and ask much according to that in Psal 81.10 we may have those large desires granted as well as if we asked but little Luke 11.13 Jer. 33.3 It is all one with a Prince to give much as well as little and it is more to his honour to give liberally then sparingly Oh what honour is it then to him that ever comes off liberally and like himself 10. We see that if he give the same things we ask he hath not bound his hands but he can give more even that that we have not asked he did so to Solomon And if we ask the best things as he did we shall have other things cast in also Mat. 6.33 We go to one that hath enough by him and that hath will enough to come off royally and like a King Vse 2. for Terrour to those that ask not If they be full of these earthly things they never desire better things such shall get nothing in Spirituals and Eternals that ask them not and then what will their other things do them good Mat. 16.26 Vse 3. for Humiliation that we ask not enough in the best kinde for how rich might we be if we did it would come in abundantly and we should have the thing how great soever that we ask of him in stead of drops and buckets we might have great Rivers flowing in to us yea the Sea it self God himself Christ Jesus the holy Spirit might be ours Peace as a river Righteousness as the waves of the Sea and what not might become ours Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To give glory to him that gives us the same things we ask of him and something addes more Oh how bountiful a God do we make our addresses to his hand is full and so should our hearts and mouthes be of his praise 2. To be full of duty and
with the Wicked Thirdly From the Wicked 1. They are such as the Lord abhors his very Soul hates them Psal 11.5 and should not Suppliants then plead with the Lord that he would put a difference between them and his righteous ones See Psal 5.5 2. They are appointed to wrath destinated to destruction 1 Thess 5.9 and can the Lord then put no difference between them but that the one should be as the other This we should plead 3. They fear not God Psal 55.19 and how should it be then but that he should put a difference between those that fear him and those that fear him not God forbid that it should be otherwise 4. They are such as hate the Righteous Prov. 29.27 and therefore that the righteous should be as the wicked we should plead it with the Lord that it may be far from him to do after such a manner 5. They are the Children of the Devil 1 Joh. 3.10 and that the Children of God should be in no better condition then the Children of the Devil that we should strongly plead with him That be far from thee to do after this manner 6. They are such as whose sins cry for vengeance as these Sodomites sins did Now that the righteous and they should share alike in punishment this were hard and we should plead hard with God that he would not do after this manner That be far from thee sayes Abraham that be far from thee Vse 1. for Information 1. We see that humble Suppliants have and ought to have a special eye at the glory of God in their Supplications that they bring before him Thus does Abraham here he is very tender of the glory of God would have no dishonour to reflect upon him by slaying the Righteous with the Wicked That be far from thee saith he to do after this manner Gods glory is that that we should aim at in all our holy addresses in Prayer to him as the first Petition in the Lords Prayer holds out to us that 's the mark we must shoot at in all we do 1 Cor. 10.31 and much more when we come to pray to him we are to have respect to the glory of his Name and that no reproach may be fastned upon the Holy One. His Name is worth more then the Lives and Souls of all the men in the world and infinitely above all created Beings 2. We see that they that plead most with God in behalf of others are most like to Abraham for so did he Oh how earnest was he in behalf of Sodom that the Reghteous might not be destroyed with the Wicked They that pray must plead if they would walk in the steps of Abraham That be far from thee being twice repeated shews that as his so our Prayers should be earnest that we bring before the Lord. Incense was not offered without fire nor our Prayers without fervency Jam. 5.16 3. We see what true love godly ones express one towards another Abraham out of tender love prayes that the Righteous may not be destroyed with the Wicked The truth is there is no true love but an image onely of it in other men but that which is love in truth is onely found among godly ones They are partakers of the Divine Nature and therefore shew forth love one to another God is love 1 Joh. 4.8 and where his Image is as is in all the Saints there is sweetest love expressed one to another 4. We see wherein true love is expressed it is evidenced in our earnest Prayers that we put up one for another Abraham so judged and therefore pleads with God in behalf of those Righteous ones in Sodom that they may not be destroyed with the wicked There 's no true love like that that is expressed in our fervent Prayers one for another Prayer is an holy breathing Lam. 3.56 and our love one to another is never breathed forth more then in our Prayers each for other They have a sweet breath and their love is sweet that pray most fervently one for another 5. We see that they that do not plead earnestly in Prayer for Righteous ones are neither heirs of Abrahams faith nor love to those righteous ones that he earnestly intreated for there are those that pray slightly and superficially for them but Abraham was fervent in spirit for those he prayed for That be far from thee That be far from thee that the Righteous should be as the Wicked Hollow slight perfunctory Prayers for others argue that there 's neither faith nor love in such an heart That fire is gone out that the bellows cannot kindle so if the blast of our desires be not fervent for others the fire of love is quite put out 6. We see that if we be to be earnest and fervent in our Prayers for others how fervent are we to be for our selves and for those that are and ought to be as dear as our own Souls for our own Country and the Land of our Nativity Oh how earnest should we be that both we and they may be spared and not destroyed when other wicked ones shall not escape we should double our Requests for our selves and them as Abraham here does that we and they may be preserved from the fire of his indignation The very Heathens had a love to their Country and their utmost desires and endeavours were for the preservation of that as we see in Tully and Pompey and others of them Oh what desires then should Christians have as for themselves so for their Country that is as themselves Luke 4.23 Vse 2. for Terrour to wicked men They are not those that Believers pray so earnestly for but onely because of the Righteous that are among them It was not for the sakes of the filthy Sodomites that Abraham was so earnest with the Lord but for the Righteous that he thought might be among them and for their sakes desires that the place may be spared Vse 3. for Humiliation to those of Gods people that are not so fervent for others as they are for themselves Abraham was fervent for others and doubles his speech on behalf of the righteous that he thought to be in Sodom and if we do not double our Requests for others as well as for our selves we are not of the spirit of Abraham nor tread in his blessed steps and that should put an holy blush into our faces Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To plead hard in behalf of others and double our files and be fervent in our requests for them We cannot be too earnest in our desires for them that that we sue unto God for is worth the strongest of our affections to be put forth in our Prayers for them So Abraham thought and so should we 2. To call upon us to be thankeful when we pray earnestly for others for we naturally slack our pace in this it is therefore supernaturall and of grace if we do as Abraham did here and Grace is to be exalted for
sue for He is abundant in goodness Exod. 34.6 and this way shews it It is observed of Solomon that he gave the Queen of Sheba all that she asked besides what he gave her of his royal bounty 1 Kings 10.13 and he honoured himself in so doing How then does God honour himself in giving us all our desire and what we ask there 's no Royal bounty like his he grants like a King and like Himself Other Kings have their Royal Grants but none such as his are Secondly From his Servants 1. They expect his hearing of their Prayers and a grant of their desires from him and wait patiently upon him and this gets a grant Psal 40.1 I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined unto me and heard my cry There 's nothing lost by patient waiting at the Courts of Kings the desires of such are granted at last much less is any thing lost by waiting upon the Lord he will come with a full hand at last and we shall have a full grant of what we sue for The Husbandman waits for the precious fruits of the earth and at length hath them so shall we by waiting have the precious blessings of Heaven brought in to us 2. They believe that they shall be heard and a Royal Grant bestowed upon them and this prevails Mat. 21.22 Faith is a Key that opens all Locks though Mercies should be locked up from us yet this Key will make way for the bringing them forth to us Knock and it shall be opened to you Mat. 7.7 The door of Mercy may be fast barred and locked but a knock by Faith will open it to us and open all the Treasures of his bounty for us that we may share in them 3. They are unwearied in their desires and that gets a grant The woman of Canaan would not be discouraged nor faint at so many denials and repuâ—ses but went on in an unwearied course of suing and pleading and this got a grant of what she asked and what she would Mat 15.28 They that are not weary in their desires may have what they will God cannot tell how to deny such If we be not weary of asking God will not be weary of giving and granting This crowns our Desires and brings in all to us We want not blessings so long as we want not knees to bow to him 4. They wrestle for a grant of their desires and so prevail and become Princes with God Gen. 32.28 and what that wrestling was we see Hos 12.3 4. They that wrestled in the Olympick Games if they got the Victory were crowned much more shall they be crowned with a Royal Grant from Heaven that wrestle and prevail with God 5. They ask according to his will 1 Joh. 5.14 15. and that prevails Our Requests when bounded within the compass of Gods will obtain every thing at Gods hand Esthers Petitions were bounded within the compass of the Kings will If it please the King and If I have found favour in the sight of the King grant me this and that Esth 5.8 7.3 and whatever she thus asked she had a grant of it So when we pray and frame all our Petitions according to his will he hears and grants all that we thus sue unto him for 6. They ask earnestly and fervently and that prevails Jam. 5.16 How earnest and fervent was Elias and what an answer had he from Heaven 1 Kings 18.36 37 38. Fervent Prayer like fire ascends to Heaven and gets a grant there of all we ask and of all that is the desire of our hearts we need never doubt of the speeding of our Prayers if offered up with this fire This Incense as it is Psal 141.2 will ascend to God and to his Throne and finde acceptance Thirdly From the Duty of Prayer 1. It is a Sacrifice Heb. 13.15 1 Pet. 2.5 and the Sacrifices that were offered up under the Leviticall Law were accepted and were of asweet smelling savour unto God and so is this of Prayer by Jesus Christ His Incense perfumes our Prayers Rev. 8.3 2. It is the lifting up of the Soul Psal 25.1 and this holds out desire and delight and earnest expectation and hope of having what is sued for as Deut. 24.15 the poor man is said to lift up his soul to his hire and wages which is translated He sets his heart upon it so in Prayer we lift up our soul to God to have those things we ask granted to us and such a lifting up of the soul to God gets a grant from him 3. It is compared to the Incense Psal 141.2 Let my prayer come before thee as the Incense now that was of a sweet savour and ascended upward So our Prayers are sweet to God and ascend unto his Throne are accepted and get a grant 4. It is compared to the Mincah or Offering that was boiled in the Frying-pan Psal 141.2 which was boiled in oyle and offered in the evening Our Prayers being boiled in the oyle of the Spirit and we praying in the holy Ghost Jude ver 20. these Prayers are accepted of God and get a grant of all we ask through Jesus Christ Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what a broad difference there is between our God and the Idols that others pray unto Our God is a God hearing Prayer but Idols cannot hear Baal's worshippers 1 Kings 18.26 called from morning to noon saying O Baal hear us but there was no voice nor any that answered So Isa 16.12 Moab shall go to his sanctuary to pray but shall not prevail Idols have ears but they hear not Ps 115.6 but our God that we pray to hath an hearing ear and grants us all that we sue unto him for never any had cause to say that he turns a deaf ear to them when they pray aright his ears have alwayes been open to their Prayers 1 Pet. 3.12 2. We see what great encouragement we have to come to him Psal 65.2 we may go when we will and be sure to speed we may pray as often as we will and have our desires granted he will not turn away from us but give us what we come for Some Princes will chide away those that sue to them as Pharaoh did the oppressed Israelites Exod. 5.17 18. but our God that we sue unto never discourageth them that make suit and supplication to him but gives them all the encouragement that may be is found of them when they seek him when they search for him with all their hearts Jer. 29.13 they shall never go away empty from his doors but go loaden with their laps full with their hearts full and all their defires like the widows vessels 2 Kings 4.6 shall be filled full we shall never say we have gone to God but we have got something there 's a rich Treasury in Heaven and we have carried away not a little from it 3. We see what cause we have to bless the Lord for his bounty to us in granting our
obedience to him We owe him ten thousand thousand and thousand of thousands more then ever we can here pay him 3. To long for the time when as he overflows to us in bounty so we shall to him in love and duty 4. To pray without ceasing we shall be no losers by it we shall have the thing we ask 5. To be liberal our selves we have an example worthy our imitation 6. To be little in our own eyes for who are we that he should thus condescend to us Verse 26. And the Lord said If I finde in Sodom fifty righteous within the City then I will spare all the place for their sakes Doct. XI THat the Lord is so full of love to his Righteous ones that he will spare a multitude of wicked ones for their sakes Sodom was a City that had many in it and they were sinners above the ordinary sort but if there had been fifty Righteous within the City he would have spared all the place for their sakes Reasons 1. From the Lord. 2. From his Righteous ones First From the Lord. 1. He is a Merciful God he Proclaimed his Name so of old Exod. 34. The Lord The Lord God merciful and such a God as delighteth in mercy Mic. 7.18 and therefore though such sinners and righteous ones deserve no such thing as mercy yet it is meet that he should have his delight Malefactors deserve nothing but punishment but if a Prince delight in mercy and will spare them who hath any thing to say against it but that he may take his delight so here 2. He hath promised that for the sake of his Righteous ones he will deliver great places Job 22.30 He will deliver the Island of the innocent and his Promises are sure words If a King say that he will do a thing it shall be done it is irrevocable he will not call back his word how much more will the Lord make good his promises they are all faithful words and stand fast for ever 3. He hath said that he could do nothing so long as any Righteous ones have been in wicked places his hands are as it were bound and tyed Gen. 19.22 and therefore he will do much for their sakes He knows not how to smite while they are there If the place be never so bad it must be spared till they be gone If he bury any Jewels it shall not be among such dunghill sinners they shall lye down in their graves with honour 4. He orders it in his Providence that when he hath any evil to bring upon a place he takes away his Righteous ones before that evil come Isa 57.1 Austin was taken away before the City where he lived was taken by the Goths and Vandals Parcus was removed by death before Heidelberge was surprized by Spinola and his Souldiers Mr. Whately of Banbury was translated to a better plaee before the Town was taken in the late Wars And all these were removed a little before such judgements came The Corn is gathered into the barn before the Swine are sent into the field so the godly are taken away before any remarkable judgement come which shews how favourable the Lord is to his Servants and that great and sinful places are spared while they are there with them 5. He looks at his Righteous as such as the world is not worthy of Heb. 11.38 for they keep off judgement from the world though they be so vilely and unworthily used in the world They are the props and pillars of the world under God if they were all gathered in the world would soon be burned into ashes and would be on a flaming fire They are they that keep up the whole Fabrick of the Earth and under God keep it from ruine and dissolution 6. He abhors and abominates the workers of iniquity and therefore if he spare them and destroy them not it is for the sakes of the Righteous that are among them it is not for any good will that he bears to the wicked he would soon make an end of them if there were not some amongst them that his Soul takes pleasure in Shells that are good for nothing but to be cast away are regarded for the Pearls that are in them So here Secondly From his Righteous ones 1. They pray for the places they live in that the Lord would be pleased to keep off judgements and continue mercies to them and these Prayers of theirs prevail God cannot tell how to deny the suits that they present before him Lot for Zoar Gen. 19.20 21. Their Prayers are so delightful to him Prov. 15.8 Cant. 2.14 that even places devoted to destruction shall be spared for their sakes the smoke of the incense of their Prayers ascends to God and to his Throne and so prevails that Gods anger cannot so smoke against those places as otherwise it would certainly do were it not that God had such regard to the Prayers of his Righteous ones in their behalf 2. They are vexed with their filthy conversation and tormented day by day with their unlawful deeds 2 Pet. 2.7 8. and this affliction of their souls that they suffer among such wicked ones God hath special regard unto and for the sake of such mourners will spare those places while they continue among them 3. They by their presence keep off the stroke of Gods vengeance Great is the power of the very company of godly ones to bear off and shield off a judgement when it is ready to fall upon a wicked place Evil men do not think so but they shall know it when the righteous are removed from them Isa 57.1 4. They are very tender of his Name and therefore he will so tender them that for their sakes he will do great things yea for a sinning people How tender was Lot of the glory of God that could not endure to hear and see what he did without vexing his righteous soul from day to day and did not God accept him for the sparing of Zoar 5. They keep his Commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight and therefore can prevail with him for any thing 1 Joh. 3.22 even for the sparing of a very wicked place and people They that please Princes may have any thing of them that they desire how much more they that do those things that are pleasing to the Lord 6. They delight themselves in the Lord and therefore he will give them the desires of their hearts Psal 37.4 whatever it is that they desire though it be in behalf of a wicked place and people yet even that desire shall be granted to them Such a place and people shall be spared for their sakes 7. They are a people near unto him Psal 148.14 and therefore he will do much for them Vse 1. for Information 1. We see what honour God puts upon his Righteous ones that will for their sakes spare wicked places and the worst of people Great is the respect that God bears to them
gestures kneeling upon our knees as Subjects to our Prince thus did Solomon 1 King 8.54 or standing as Servants to our Master Luke 11.25 or smiting upon our breasts and casting down our eyes Luke 18.13 or falling upon our faces or any bodily gesture expressing the humility of our spirits We would count our selves unworthy to come into the Presence of a King on earth if we did not use humble gestures before him Oh how much more then should we when we use them not when we come before the Lord 5. In humble behaviour in our Petitions to him in a beseeching way The Evangelist sayes that the woman of Canaan besought Christ that he would cast the devil out of her daughter Thus Abraham besought the Lord for Sodom So the Text. Thus Jacob humbly prayed for deliverance from Esau in a beseeching way Gen. 32.11 12. So Daniel Dan. 9.19 O Lord hear O Lord forgive O Lord consider and do defer not for thine own sake O my God They that sue to Princes are full of intreaties much more should we when we come before the Lord. 6. In being afraid that we should then provoke him to anger when we pray to him Gen. 18.30 32. Let not the Lord be angry and I will speak so Gideon useth the same expression Judg. 6.39 But of this I shall inlarge when I come to speak of those words of Abraham 7. In self-loathing and self-abhorrency Ezek. 36.31 Job 42.6 This argues an humble heart when we can loath our selves and abhorre our selves by provoking of him Quest 2. Why are we thus to be humble in our addresses to him Ans 1. From the Lord. 2. From our selves 3. From the Petitions we make to him First From the Lord. 1. He is a great God and a great King above all gods Psa 47.2 95.3 Mal. 1.14 I am a great King saith the Lord of Hosts and does not humility then well become them that come before such a great One as he is 2. He is our Maker Psal 95.6 7. and should we not be humble before our Maker He made us at first and hath made us again when we had defaced his first workmanship 2 Cor. 5.15 and the second gift is greater then the first In primâ— opere me mihi dedit in secundo se sayes Bernard and such a Makers love is to be humbly adored 3. He humbleth Himself exceedingly to us Psal 113 5-9 and should not we learn humility of him Should the King be humble and the Subjects proud 4. He is so glorious that the Angels cover their faces and feet before him Isa 6.2 and if those mighty ones those great Courtiers be so humble how humble should we be that are vile dust and ashes 5. He delights in humble ones looks with an eye of favour to such Isa 66.2 and should not this humble us in his sight Humble suiters with men are most in favor much more with the Lord. 6. He hears the desires of the humble Psa 10.17 and therefore we may well think it behoves us to be humble 7. He dwells with such Isa 57.15 he is familiar with them and will not leave them as men forsake not their dwellings 8. He will save such Job 22.29 with a temporal and eternal salvation Secondly From our selves 1. We are low in our Original Gen. 3.19 2.7 and it 's good to think of that to abase us and lay us low before him 2. We are low in our condition whither we are to go Eccles 12.7 Job 25.6 and can we look at proud dust without blushing 3. We are viler then the vilest of the creatures by reason of sin Job 40.4 4. We are beggars and humility well becomes such 1 Chron. 29.14 16. Mat. 5.3 5. We are his suppliants Zeph. 3.10 and humility well becomes such 6. We are debtors and they sue humbly so should we Mat. 6.11 Thirdly From the Petitions themselves 1. They are for great things and therefore it becomes us to be humble in suing for such great things A portion in Christ Inheritance in Heaven Pardon of sin Peace of Conscience Fellowship with God c. these are great things 2. They are for good things Mat. 7.11 and we should be humble in asking such things How good is the Favour of God and Assurance of his Love Justification c. 3. They are for rare things that but a few partake of we pray for Salvation and that 's a rare thing there are few saved Mat. 7.14 4. They are wonderful things that we ask Jer. 33.3 and such things are to be humbly prayed for 5. They are precious things that we ask Christ the holy Spirit Grace Glory these are very precious things and therefore we are to ask them humbly 6. They are whatsoever we will that we may have a grant of Matth. 21.22 Joh. 15.7 and therefore it well becomes us to ask such things in an humble manner Vse 1. for Information 1. We see that they that are of a proud spirit when they come to pray before the Lord cannot expect that their Prayers should be accepted for humility is that that God looks for and that which well becomes us when we pray to him Cloth of Gold does not better become a Prince then humility does a Petitioner before the Lord. Humble suiters are the speeders Luke 18.13 14. Pride is a Rag of the old man and it is not comely to be seen in rags before such a King as the Lord is 2. We see a reason why Prayer is called Incense Psal 141.2 Mal. 1.11 The Incense was to be beaten small Exod. 30.36 and by the beating of it very small was shadowed out the humility and contrition of our hearts in Prayer 3. We see that Confession of sin is one of the chief ingredients that Prayer is to consist of for therein we chiefly humble our selves in coming before the Lord in Prayer Lev. 20.40 41 42. Solomon speaks much of it in his Prayer 1 Kin. 8. and we cannot be too serious in it 4. We see that Popish Prayers according to the number of their Beads which they do so glory in are of no account with God because they trust in them and come not from the humility of their hearts for He resisteth the proud but gives grace to the humble 1 Pet. 5.5 The more humble we be when we pray the more acceptance we may expect from him Psal 10.17 5. We see that without faith there 's no putting up an humble Prayer Abrahams faith made him pray so humbly So that woman of Canaans faith was that that humbled her heart in Prayer that she fell at Christs feet It was the Centurions faith that made him confess that he was not worthy that Christ should come under his Roof and that he was not worthy to come to him Luke 7.6 7. Faith is an humbling grace and the more of it we bring with us in Prayer the more humility decks that Prayer 6. We see a reason of that in Psal 51.17
cannot come too often to him in our suits and this puts us upon it to follow him with our requests and to speak to him in Prayer yet again as Abraham did here 3. He hath not stinted us nor put any bounds to our lawful desires but hath bidden us ask what we will and as often as we will to ask great things and many things Jer. 33.3 Joh. 15.7 and this encourageth Believers not to stint themselves or to say to themselves Hitherto we will go and no further and when we have got this and that and the other we will ask no more 4. He hath promised that we shall have all we ask according to his will 1 Joh. 5.14 15. and therefore we may well go again and again to him and not give over though we have got our renewed suits granted to us Princes promises encourage Subjects Addresses to them as we see in the Promises of Ahasuerus to Esther and Herods to his Dancing Minion how much more then will Gods promises encourage us in our prayers to him 5. He desires to hear us speaking to him Cant. 2.14 Let me see thy countenance let me hear thy voice and if he desire this we may well be encouraged to come again We may well let him have his desire that lets us have ours 6. He takes pleasure in our often coming Cant. 2.14 Sweet is thy voice Our Prayers are musick and melody in his ears Hence also the Prayers of Believers are compared to Incense Psal 141.2 and that had a fragrant sweet smell Such are Believers Prayers they are sweet-scented fragrant savour well in his nosthrils they are delightsome to him and this may well put us upon it to follow him with our suits that are so acceptable to him in Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 Secondly From Believers 1. They are and may be bold with God as I said before and from that holy boldness do go again and again to him Heb. 4.16 They that have leave to be bold with Kings as Favourites have may go as oft as they will to them and though they have got their renewed grants yet they will come again so it is with Believers that are in favour with God 2. Though they have many desires granted and many of their suits hearkned to yet their wants are many still and will be while they are in this world and if some be supplied yet they need more and therefore cannot but come again We are made up of wants and when we have got something we need more when this and that favour hath been brought in to us still we are lacking something further and therefore cannot but go to him again for supplies Phil. 4.19 3. They know they go to a liberal one that gives to all liberally Jam. 1.5 and therefore though they have received this and that and the other benefit from him yet if they speak yet again and ask on he will not deny them and this puts them on to sue for further favour 4. They do not use to deny their friends that sue to them though they come often and therefore cannot but judge that they fall infinitely short of God who is rich in mercy Eph. 2.4 and this puts them upon it to go often to the Throne of Grace and again and again to ask for further favour though they have prevailed in their suits before 5. They have engaged themselves to call upon God as long as they live Psal 116.2 and this obligation of theirs puts them upon it to make frequent addresses to him and though they have got their desires in some things yet they cannot there make a stop but must ask further as Abraham here did 6. They are the more welcome the oftner they come and the more suits they bring Some men will say to their friends That the oftner they come the more welcome they be and some say it feignedly and others in truth and reality but however it is with men it is so with God he is best pleased with us when we are most frequently with him we are most welcome to him when he hears us oftnest with him It 's said of Enoch that walked constantly with God Gen. 5.22 and followed his suits hard that he had this testimony that he pleased God Heb. 11.5 and so it is with them that come again they are welcome and that puts them upon coming Vse 1. for Information 1. We see that Believers are restless in their motions towards the Lord they are like the Heavenly Bodies that cannot stand still Though they have got much at the Lords hands by bringing their suits before him yet they cannot rest there but must try the Lord yet further and get something more their Suits must go on their Prayers must not have bounds set to them but when new grants have been made yet they must pray further and speak yet again as Abraham here did That man that ceaseth Prayer though he hath got much walketh not in the steps of the faith of Abraham or at least keeps not pace with him in a way believing 2. We see that Believers have great interest in God for they make many suits to him yea when they have got much yet cannot stop there but will ask for more and try the Lord for more grace be given in to them Great is their interest in Princes that can do so and such and much more is Believers interest in the Lord God is theirs and therefore they are emboldened to ask so much of him Psal 119.94 118.28 3. We see that they that sit still and quiet themselves in grace received and do not come again as need is but restrain prayer as they cast off fear Job 15.4 so they are not of the faith of Abraham for though he had suit after suit granted yet he sued still and spake yet again 4. We see that a Believers restless motion in praying comes near Angelical work for the Angels cease not night nor day in praising God Rev. 4. and Believers here cease not to call upon God and though they have obtained much yet they rest not there but must have more and who would not be like the Angels who would not follow those Celestial Spirits it is a rare thing to imitate those glorious Heroes and to serve our King like those noble Courtiers that wait continually upon him and alwayes behold his face 5. We see what longing desires we should have to be in Heaven where we shall be alwayes in his Presence and never cease serving of him Rev. 22.3 4. Here we do something like the service of God there in that we cease not our suits to him onely here is the difference that what we do here is imperfect service and we have our clogs and hindrances in what we best do but in Heaven as we shall be more constant so we shall never be interrupted in our service nor have any clog or hindrance at all and therefore we should long for that blessed place
angry when we restrain prayer before him Some godly ones in temptation pray not neither in their Families nor in their Closets and they dare not as they think come before the Lord in that duty they are afraid to look him in the face but this is their sin and such had need be humbled for it for God will be angry at it and they will have cause to blush that they should deal so with God as not to call upon his Name Vse 2. for Terrour to all those that are wicked and go on in a way of wickedness If God be angry with the Prayers of his and they are justly afraid he may so be how angry will he be with the workers of iniquity he is angry with them every day Psal 7.11 12 13. If he turn not he will whet his sword he hath bent his bowe and made it ready He hath prepared for him the instruments of death he ordained his arrows against the persecutors God is so angry with them that all his weapons of destruction are in a readiness to destroy them speedily dreadfully and without remedy Vse 3. for Humiliation that we should give the Lord any cause to be angry with our Prayers and our selves cause to fear that so it is An ingenuous Childe will be troubled at his Fathers anger and so should we that we give our Father cause to be angry at our Prayers and that we have cause to fear that we have as in other things so in that duty provoked his displeasure against us This should lay us low before him Vse 4. for Exhortation 1. To be watchful in this duty that God may not be angry with our Prayers Watchfulness must ever be a companion to Prayer Coloss 4.2 1 Pet. 4.7 To be sure the enemy will watch when we are at the duty and throw in something that is either evil or not good at that time as Hushai said of Achitophels counsel 2 Sam. 17.7 and our own hearts yield store of evil thoughts which flie-blow the duty and if we watch not against these God will be angry and we have cause to fear that it will be no better with us 2. To meditate much of Christs Intercession for he it is that offers his Incense with the prayers of all Saints and mingles his with ours to perfume and sweeten them and make them acceptable so as God will not be angry with them Christs Intercession makes our Prayers so welcome that they are pleasant in his sight and he cannot be displeased with them 3. To be angry with our selves that we have any cause to fear that God may be angry at our Prayers for he is not angry for nothing he does not without cause what he does Ezek. 14.23 wherein he does express his anger towards us Such holy fire therefore would be pleasing to God and be a fruit of true Repentance 2 Cor 7.11 4. To call upon us to be thankeful when he does not express any tokens of his displeasure at our Prayers for we our selves fear that we give him cause to be angry at them If therefore he manifest no such thing but the contrary viz. That he is well-pleased in Christ with them Cant. 2.14 Oh what cause have we to be for ever thankful VVE now come to the second part of the Note and that is this That Believers desire of God that he would not be angry with them when they pray to him So did Abraham here Let not the Lord be angry So Gideon Judg. 6.39 Let not thine anger be hot against me When we make Supplication to a Prince we desire this that we may have the smiles of his face and that he may not be angry with us So do Believers when they make Supplication to the Lord they do and ought to desire that he would not be angry with them Reasons 1. From the Petitioners themselves 2. From the nature of his anger First From the Petitioners 1. They desire the acceptance of their Prayers and that they may be sweet and pleasing to him which they could not be if God should be angry with them Psal 141.2 Let my prayer come before thee as Incense Psal 10.14 2. They would be Princes with God and prevail with him as it is said of Jacob Gen. 32.28 and this cannot be if God be angry with them A Prince will not be prevailed with if he be angry with him that puts up his suit to him So we shall never prevail with God if he be angry with us when we pray to him 3. They see some just cause why he might be angry with them if he should be strict with them there are so many spots in the duty and these they earnestly desire that he would not take notice of to be angry with them Psal 130.3 4. They are afraid that they are too bold with him and therefore desire that he would not be angry with them So Abraham does here When we sue to men for some special favour we desire pardon for our boldness as fearing that we may offend by it so do they that make suit to the Lord. 5. They are conscious of their own integrity in the main though they may have their failings Psal 44.17 18. and therefore desire that he would not be angry with them 6. They expostulate with him in an humble way about his anger with their Prayers Psal 80.4 which shews that they see cause to desire of God that he would not be angry with them for such an expostulation contains the force of an earnest prayer that he would withdraw his anger from them Secondly From the nature of his Anger 1. It is like fire and therefore Gideon expresseth it Judg. 6.39 Let not thine anger be hot against me Gods anger is as hot as fire and therefore in Deut. 32.22 it is said A fire is kindled in mine anger that shall burn to the lowest hell Now being of such a fiery nature it is not to be marvelled at that they pray that God would not be angry with them 2. It is like the dreadful waves of the Sea Mic. 7.9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord The word translated indignation signifies such a raging as is in the raging waves of the Sea when they are lifted up on high and threaten drowning and overwhelming and therefore Jonah 1.15 the same word is used for the raging of the Sea in a sore storm and tempest and when the Sea rageth and is tempestuous the Marriners earnestly desire a Calm and that they might be quiet and the Sea might cease from her raging So Believers desire of God that the dreadful waves of the Sea of his anger may cease and that they may enjoy a quiet Calm 3. It is compared to smoke Dent. 29.20 Psal 74.1 and smoke is a stifling thing if it be in the extremity of it and cannot be endured and as men get out of a smoky house or room as not being able to bear it and desire to be as farre