prayed for conditionally pag. 15 Temporal things given to them that have no grace pag. 117 Be as ready to be thankful to God for what you have received as to seek him for what you want pag. 106 Three special duties to be daily practised by every Christian pag. 2 Times of prayer pag. 40 U Vocal prayer pag. 6 Vnbelief a greater sin than all thy other sins pag. 65 Vngodly and wicked men pray not pag. 81 W Wait Gods time for an answer of prayer pag. 100 Wandering thoughts must be avoided in prayer pag. 104 Wicked men that pray not may have temporal but not spiritual blessings pag. 56 Wicked men how they have a right to what they do enjoy pag. 57 Wicked men cannot please God in prayer pag. 76 Words shall not be wanting to him that hath a sincere heart to seek God pag. 115 Z Zeal and fervency required in prayer pag. 11 Faults escaped may be thus corrected PAge 14. line 21. read these p. 17. l. 10. blot out may p. 19. l. 8. after glorifie God adde in your body and in your spirit which are Gods p. 25. l. the last bl out mance p. 28. l. 20. after deadnesse adde and dulnesse p. 36. l. 13. after of adde from p. 38. l. 15. r. God p. 65. l. 4. r. from his sins p. 78. l. 9. r. him p. 85. l. 12. bl out as p. 86. l. 6. after say r. to God p. 86. l. 15. r. teacheth p. 91. l. 9. r. and secretly p. 99. l. 3. r. whatsoever p. 114. l. 19. r. assistance p. 117. after before me adde because he humbleth himself before me p. 121. r. acknowledged Marginal faults correct thus Page 13. line 6. r. John p. 19. l. 22. r. Acts 9.40 p. 45. l. 2. Heb. 13.5 p. 50. l. 22. Phil. 4.6 p. 55. l. 12. r. 1 Corin. p. 63. l. 18. Mat. 9.12 p. 68. l. 6. r. Heb. 5.7 p. 76. l. r. Psal 143.8 p. 101. l. 5. Isa 8.17 THE CHRISTIANS DAYLY PRACTICE OR A practical discourse of PRAYER Very useful for every Christian By Sampson Tounesend Minister of Gods Word Pastour of Hackford and Whitwel in Norffolke Evening and morning and at noon will I pray and cry aloud and he shall hear my voice Psal 55.17 Imprimatur EDM. CALAMY LONDON Printed by E. M. for George Calvert at the signe of the Half-Moon in St. Pauls Church-yard over against the little North-door 1659. THE CHRISTIANS DAYLY PRACTICE Being the substance of eleven SERMONS preached on 1 THESS 5.17 Pray HAving undertaken to speak of Prayer I have chosen this Text as the subject upon which I intend to build my discourse The Apostle having in the former Chapter spoken of the last Resurrection the coming of Christ and the blessed condition of those that die in the Lord after the Resurrection In this Chapter he prevents a needlesse inquiry that some might make as they in Mat. 24.3 When shall these things be He tels them it shall be sudden and unexpected verse 1 2 3. and then he exhorts them to watchfulnesse that they may be prepared for it ver 5 6 7 8. And from the 13 verse to the 23 he exhorts them to several duties In the 23 verse he prays for them In the 25 verse he desires them to pray for him and so concludes his Epistle In the verse before my Text in the Text and in the verse following he requires three speciall Duties that are dayly to be practised by every Christian Rejoyce evermore Pray without ceasing In everything give thanks Teaching us that our joy should be such as it doe not hinder Prayer and our Prayers should be such as they doe not exclude spirituall Joy and then we shall have occasion at all times in every thing to give thanks The Text it holds forth to us this Doctrine That it is the duty of the people of God to Pray Doct. Concerning which I intend to clear up unto you these things 1. To shew you what Prayer is 2. The severall kindes of Prayer 3. The preparations to Prayer 4. The duties in Prayer 5. The gestures in Prayer 6. The motives and encouragements to Prayer 7. The times of Prayer 8. And lastly I shall answer divers Objections about Prayer And when I have gone through all these I shall make Use and Application of all First of the nature of Prayer First Definition what it is Prayer it is a work of Gods Spirit and so floweth out of the spirit and heart of man First It is a work of Gods Spirit and hence it is that it is called the spirit of grace and supplication Zach. 12.10 And the Spirit is said to help Gods Children in Praying Rom. 8.26 27. And we are commanded to pray in the holy Ghost Jude 20. That is by the help of the holy Ghost And saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 14.15 I will pray with the Spirit So you see it is a work of Gods Spirit Secondly It floweth out of the spirit and heart of man saith David Psal 62.8 Pour out your heart before him Psal 42.4 I will pour out my soul in me When God poures out upon the Soul the spirit of Grace and Supplication then the Soul pours out it self to God And therefore you may take an other definition of Prayer thus It is a talking of the heart and soul with God Definition and of such a heart as is prepared by God When the strength and stream of the heart and affections are drawn out after God in Prayer This is the Prayer that God will hear and answer And ye shall seek me Jer 29.13 and finde me when ye shall search for me with all your heart And none can thus seek God with all the heart till God prepare and dispose the heart thus to seek him Psal 27.8 When thou sayest seek ye my face my heart said unto thee thy face Lord will I seek God must first speak to the heart before the heart can speak so to God as he will hear Psal 10.17 Thou wilt prepare their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear So much for the first thing propounded Secondly Secondly I shall shew you the severall kindes of Prayer First There is mental prayer or the prayer of the minde And thus Moses is said to cry unto God Exod. 14.15 although he uttered no voice And thus Hannah prayed She spake in her heart onely 1 Sam. 1.13 her lips moved but her voice was not heard Secondly There is vocal prayer Psal 77.1 I cryed unto God with my voice even unto God with my voice and he gave ear unto me Again there is secret prayer Mat. 6.6 When thou prayest enter into thy Closet and when thou hast shut thy dore pray to thy Father which is in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly And there is publick Prayers with the Congregation and Prayers lesse publick in the Family or with
help of a good Prayer Book Answ then not to pray at all onely be sure that the Prayers you read be sutable to your condition And take heed the spirit of Grace and Supplication be not wanting in him that reads the Prayer nor in them that hear it The best Reformed Churches hath and doth read Set-formes of Prayer It is Objected Object To read a Sermon is not to Preach therefore to read a Prayer is not to Pray I Answer Answ the reason is not alike in both For the gift of Preaching is not shewed in reading therefore reading a Sermon is not preaching but the grace and gift of Prayer may be shewed in reading of a Prayer Again it is Objected Object If we read Formes of Prayer then we stinct the Spirit I Answer no. Answ For if we joyn with another that prayes without a Form his prayer is a Form to us For although our hearts be more enlarged yet we must stick close to the words of him with whom we joyn in Prayer So as this is no stinting of the spirit For when thou art alone thou maist enlarge thy self Yet further know that the enlargement of the heart stands not so much in the multitude and variety of expressions as in the extent of the affections So that although you be tyed up in words yet there is no tie upon the affections they may be enlarged in putting up the same petition when an other is straightned Thus you see a man may read and use Formes of Prayer onely take these two Cautions First 1. Caution Take heed you do not rest in this way For although reading is a help to Prayer yet must you labour to pray without it A child that cannot goe alone may be helpt to go but ye must not be alwayes children not alwayes doe thus Secondly 2. Caution Take heed you neglect not to use and exercise the grace God have given you For know this there is no man that hath any work of Grace upon his heart but is able to pray without reading or using a Set-forme of Prayer There was never any man in extreme need but he could tell how to expresse his wants to those that could relieve him without reading them I come to answer the second Question which is this 2. Quest. I cannot read and I know not how to pray What shall I do in this case I Answer Answ Go to God with David and say O Lord open thou my lips Psal 51.15 and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise Put into my mouth what I shall speak unto thee And then doubtlesse that God that bids his people take unto them words Hos 14.2 and hath promised his spirit shall help their infirmities Rom. 8.26 will undoubtedly give them words to seek him with For God never puts a man upon a duty but he will help him in it As you may see in the example of Moses he complaines of his inability to speak God bids him go and promiseth to be with his mouth Exod. 4.10 11 12. and to teach him what he shall say And Moses by Gods help was mighty in words as well as in deeds Acts 7.22 Let a man be never so full of words and matter he cannot bring it forth in Prayer without Gods assistance he cannot utter his own conceptions without Gods help Prov. 16.1 Saith Solomon The preparation of the heart in man and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. A man can neither prepare his heart to speak nor speak what he hath prepared without Gods assistance And therefore go to God to give thee a heart and words to speak to him with and doubtlesse that God that hath promised to give a mouth to his children Mat. 10.19 Luk. 21.15 to speak before their enemies He will not deny to give them words when they come by Prayer to speak before himself For a full answer to this question take these two Conclusions First God never gives a man an heart to pray Psal 10.17 but he lends an ear to hear Secondly He that hath an heart to pray will seek God to give him words And he that with a sincere heart seeks God to give him words shall never want words to seek him with Hast thou then a heart go to God and he will give thee words Psa 19.14 Pray with David Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer And then God will make thy words acceptable in his sight For there is no mouth into which God cannot put fit words to seek him with When God puts forth his power the weakest instrument shall be enabled to do his will As appeared Num. 22.27 to 32 verse when God enabled Balaams Asse to convince his Master And so much for the Answer to the two Questions Lastly I come now in the third and last place to lay down some encouragements to the Duty of Prayer I have already given divers in the use of Consolation To all which in the close let me adde these three or four following First 1. Encourag God is so well pleased with Prayer that he hath heard the Prayers of men for temporal things that had no grace You may see this in the example of King Ahab 1 King 21.24 to the end who sold himself to work wickednesse in the sight of God Yet when he heard the judgement threatned against him he humbled himself by Fasting and Prayer and although it was not the humiliation of a true Penitent for he turned not from his sinnes yet see what God saith to the Prophet concerning him 1 King 21.29 Seest thou how A hab bumbles himself before me I will not bring the evil in his dayes but in his sonnes dayes will I bring the evil upon his house If God be thus moved with the humiliation and prayer of a wicked man as to put off or deferre a temporal judgement how can God deny the Prayers of those that have the truth of grace when they seek him for pardon of sinne and spiritual blessings If external humiliation prevail thus with God O how prevalent are the Prayers of tender broken-hearted sinners 2 King 22.19 such as good King Josiah was Secondly 2. Encourag There is no man that hath set upon this duty of Prayer with a sincere heart resolving to go on in the practice thereof although he hath been never so weak and unable to the work at the first yet in time he hath found God carrying of him on in it beyond expectations and hath found a daily growth and increase of Grace and abilities to Pray God despiseth not the day of small things Zach. 4.10 Though grace in the soul of him that humbly seeks God be at the first but as a grain of Mustard seed Mat. 13.1 31. yet afterward it shall
discourse of the soul with God It is a conversing with God by which Gods love to us and our love to God is encreased It is an humble hearty and holy request made according to Gods will and offered up by Faith to God in the Name of Christ Elton on the Lords prayer for things needful for the body or soul It is a putting up of our requests to God according to his word Perkins on the Lords prayer from a contrite heart in the Name of Christ with assurance to be heard It is the breathing of the Spirit of God Gal. 4.6 Rom. 8.14 28. and a proper action of the sonnes of God You see what the duty is It is a work of Gods Spirit Therefore beg the Spirit that thou maist pray Ps 51.12 Luk. 11.13 It is a free Spirit because it is freely promised to those that ask it Rom. 8.26 And it so helpeth us in the duty of Prayer that it makes us which before we streightned to be free in the work 2 Cor. 3.17 For where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty And from hence it is that Gods Children are so frequent in the Duty which is the second thing I propounded to speak too Believe it God hath never a Child but it is ever craving They pray continually 1 Thes 5.17 because they find continual need of Gods grace and help and they find continual supplies thereof as an answer of Prayers I read That Constantine the Great made his Court a Church where Prayers were made Jerom lived four years with Watchings Fastings and Prayers Bernard prayed day and night till his knees were so weary with fasting and prayer that they could not uphold his body Latimer many times continued so long in fervent Prayer that he was not able to get up without help And I read that Clemens Alexandrinus prayed thrice a day Luther let no day passe over his head in which he spent not three hours at least in Prayer Master Robert Bolton prayed constantly six times a day twice with his Family twice with his Wife and twice in secret Master John Bruen prayed seven times a day And why are Gods servants thus frequent in prayer Surely it is because they find no trade that hath so quick and gainful returnes as this and therefore they follow it so hard And this leads me to the third and last thing I propounded to speak to and that is the excellent and great priviledges that belong to Gods people that are frequent and constant in this Duty O! praying Christian how great are thy priviledges Although thou maiest be slighted and dis-esteemed by man yet thou hast free liberty to conferre with the King of Heaven Cant. 2.14 who not onely delights to hear thy voice but inviteth thee to come unto him and promiseth to give thee whatsoever thou askest of him Mat. 7.7 As long as thou constantly acquaintest thy self with God by prayer thou shalt be sure to have him thy constant friend Job 22.21 24. who will never fail Heb. 13.5 nor forsake thee but will abundantly supply unto thee the want of all unfaithful and unconstant friends that desert thee where prayer is not wanting grace and comfort cannot be wanting John 16.23.24 Thou that art a child of God and dost the will of God let the desires of thy heart to God in Prayer be never so much enlarged God will satisfie all thy desires Joh. 15.7 Psal 37.4 And it must needs be thus for that God that is able to do for his children and many times doth for them exceedingly above all that they ask or think Eph. 3.20 He will not and for his promise sake he cannot deny any of those needful things his children ask of him Ps 81.10 By prayer Gods people not only obtain all the good things they pray for 1 Tim. 4.5 but also a sanctified use of all those good things Whatsoever is given by God to man in a way of mercy is given him as an answer of his Prayers 1 Joh. 5.14 15. Prayer is the key that open all the Treasures of God 1 Kings 8.33 35. It is the great instrument of removing all evils from the soul and the body It is the Character of the Saints It is the condition of Gods promises Ezek. 36 37. the forerunner of Gods performances Jer. 31.9 The happy priviledges of the praying Christian are beyond expression They have a constant Communion with God They have dayly supplies of grace from God 1 Joh. 1.3 whereby they are enabled to serve and please God while they live here Heb. 4.16 and they shall be made everlastingly happy with God hereafter Rom. 10.13 No greater priviledges can be obtained then these yet these are the priviledges of the praying Christian Would you be happy pray pray that your joy may be full John 16.24 He deserves to be miserable that might be made happy by praying and yet will not set upon the Duty But I shall pray and hope that these my labours may be succesful for the ends intended in directing in and exciting to the Duty those that have not used it in comforting and encouraging those in the Duty that dayly practise it And in whomsoever either of these ends be promoted let God have the glory and forget not to pray for him who is to his power Thine in all Christian services for thy souls good Sampson Tounesend July 1. 1658. A TABLE OF THE Contents DOct. It is the duty of the people of God to pray pag. 3 1. What prayer is It is 1. A work of Gods Spirit pag. 4 2. It floweth out of the spirit and heart of man or it is a talking of the heart and soul with God pag. 5 2. The several kinds of prayer Are 1. Mental pag. 6 2. Vocal Publick Private 3. The preparations to prayer Are 1. Prayer 2. Meditation pag. 8 Meditate upon 1. Gods infinite greatnesse 2. The promises 3. Thine own wants and vileness pag. 9 4. The duties or graces requisite in prayer are 1. Knowledge pag. 9 2. Faith 3. Humility pag. 10 4. Purity of heart 5. Love to our brethren 6. Zeal and fervency pag. 11 7. Unwearied constancy 8. We must pray in the Holy Ghost pag. 12 9. In the name and mediation of Jesus Christ pag. 13 10. For things agreeable to Gods will 11. We must use a due order in prayer pag. 14 12. Take heed of loving long prayers pag. 15 Lastly hate the sin you pray against and love the grace you pray for pag. 16 5. The gestures in prayer are 1. Kneeling pag. 18 2. Lifting and spreading forth the hands pag. 20. 3. Lifting up of the eyes pag. 22 4. For men to be uncovered pag. 23 In what case gestures may be omitted pag. 25 Reprehension for these that neglect the forementioned or use contrary gestures pag. 29 Exhortation to use more reverence in prayer pag.
31 Six several motives to the duty of prayer The First sort of motives are taken from the necessity of the duty 1. God commands it pag. 33 2. The creature is sanctifyed by it 3. There is no comfort in the Ordinances without it pag. 34 4. We lie under Gods curse if we neglect it A second sort of motives are taken from the benefits that come by prayer 1. It shall not be in vain pag. 35 2. It is a signe of true Conversion 3. It is alwayes accompanied with salvation 4. It is sweet and pleasant in Gods ears pag. 36 5. It will give ease to the grieved heart 6. It is the only means to get the heart filled with spiritual graces 7. By prayer we approach into Gods presence pag. 37 A third sort of motives are taken from the power and goodnesse of God 1. God hath stiled himself a God hearing prayer 2. He is able to help his people pag. 38 3. He is willing to help them 4. He hath made many promises to help them pag. 39 Seventhly the times of prayer in general continually pag. 40 That is 1. Upon all opportunites 2. Without fainting pag. 41 3. Daily all their life long The special times of prayer are The Lords dayes fasting dayes thanksgiving dayes and upon private occasions pag. 42 But more particularly 1. Every day pag. 43 2. Twice every day morning and evening pag. 44 Reasons why we must be thus constant and frequent in prayer are because 1. We continually need blessings pag. 45 2. Without prayer our calling prospers not pag. 46 3. Without it our graces will decay 4. The Devils temptations will prevail pag. 47 5. Our sins will multiply and pag. 48 6. We have need to beg daily pardon of sin pag. 49 Eightly and lastly several objections against prayer are answered as 1. Object It is to no purpose to pray 1. Because God knoweth our wants 2. He hath decreed what shall befall every man 3. He is ready to give what is fit for us This is answered pag. 50 2. Object It is needlesse because the good successe of things depend upons second causes and natural means This is answered pag. 54 3. Object They that never pray do as well as they that pray most what need then is there of this constant praying This is answered pag. 56 4. Object I am unable to pray I would pray but I want faith and the spirit of prayer This is answered pag. 59 5. Object I would fain pray but I am so sinful and unworthy a wretch I dare not I know God heareth not sinners John 9.31 Yet such a one am I and therefore I dare not pray This is answered pag. 16 6. Object I have prayed but I can find no answer This is answered pag. 66 7. Object I can finde no good by praying but I finde I am rather the worse This is answered pag. 71 The use of all is 1. For Instruction 2. For Reprehension 3. For Consolation Lastly for Exhortation 1 Use 1. It instructs us in the right manner of prayer where pag. 75 1. We see dead dull formal heartlesse prayers are not pleasing to God 2. That wicked men that have not the Spirit of God cannot please God in their praying pag. 76 2. It instructs us concerning the power of prayer of which many examples in Scripture are instanced pag. 77 2. Use Reprehension divers are reproved 1. Those that pray not at all pag. 81 2. Those that are lasie and sluggish in prayer pag. 82 3. Those that have evil ends in praying pag. 83 4. Those that pray for light and slight things 5. Those that are formal and hypocritical in their prayers 6. Those that pray without judgment or understanding pag. 84 7. Those that pray but resolve to go on in their sinnes pag. 88 Lastly Those that pray without faith and fervency pag. 90 3. Use Consolation for all those that are faithful frequent constant and fervent in this duty of prayer 1. God usually blesseth those families where prayers are daily used pag. 91 2. God will answer secret prayers 3. If thou canst pray in faith it is a certain signe thou hast the truth of grace thou art a childe of God and shall be saved pag. 92 4. If thy heart be sincere in prayer God will accept of thee although thou hast many failings pag. 93 5. When words fail tears sighs and groanes are a signe thou hast the spirit of prayer pag. 94 6. Sincere seeking of God will give comfort in all afflictions and trials pag. 95 7. A constant course of praying is a certain signe the sinne or judgement thou prayest against shall be removed or the mercy thou prayest for shall be granted pag. 96 8. That God that calleth thee to pray he is able ready and willing to help thee pag. 98 Lastly all the prayers of Gods faithful servants on earth shall undoubtedly be heard and answered in heaven If 1. They be Righteous persons and pag. 99 2. Ask in the Name of Christ pag. 100 3. According to the will of God The fourth and last use is Exhortation to the performance of the duty of prayer where first you have divers Directions in the duty as 1. Labour to be reconciled to Christ pag. 102 2. Ask nothing but what God hath promised to give pag. 103 3. Seek God with a contrite and broken heart pag. 104 4. Take heed of wandering thoughts in prayer 5. Beare in thy minde all the sinnes thou art to pray against and the graces thou art to pray for mind also the mercies thou hast received to be thankful for them pag. 105 6. In thy prayers have a high esteem of God pag. 106 7. Be as ready to be thankful for what you have received as to seek God for what you want 8. When your prayers be ended take heed you rest not in the duty pag. 107 9. Let Gods glory be your utmost aime in all your prayers pag. 108 Lastly Take heede of a selfish spirit prayer Pray for all men pag. 109 Two questions concerning prayer answered 1. Question I cannot tell how to pray I want utterance whether or no is not my reading a forme of prayer acceptable with God in this case This is answered pag. 110. 2. Question I cannot read and I know not how to pray what shall I do in this case This is answered pag. 113 Lastly four encouragementts to the duty of prayer 1. God is so well pleased with it That he hath heard the prayers of men for temporal things that had no grace pag. 117 2. Whosoever sets upon the duty with a sincere heart shall find God carrying of him on in it beyond expectation pag. 118 3. God is more ready to answer his people than they are to ask pag. 120 Lastly God is so well pleased with prayer as that he makes his readinesse to hear a ground of encouragement to quicken them to the duty pag. 121 Books Printed by George Calvert at the signe of the Half-Moon
conditions For want of observing these things and so using a due order in Prayer many times instead of a blessing God makes a breach upon them for seeking him disorderly as it is acknowledge 1 Chron. 15.13 The Lord our God made a breach upon us for that we sought him not after the due order Twelthly Take heed of loving long Prayers and think not to be heard because your Prayers are long Saith Christ When you pray Mat. 6.7 use not vain repetitions as the Heathen doe For they think they shall be heard for their much speaking Long prayers can hardly maintain their vigour commonly there will be vain repetitions as you see it was with the Heathen Know that God takes not mens Prayers by tale but by weight It is not gifts but Grace that moves God to hear prayers He that is fervent in Prayer prays much though he speak but little Let not your words and matter exceed your affections and then pray and spare not otherwise break off the sooner the better Lastly Lastly Hate the sinne you pray against and love the Grace you pray for First Hate the sinne you pray against a man cannot pray hearttily for the pardon of and strength against those sinnes that he does not hate but when the sinne of his heart is the grief of his soul now may he exspect pardon 1 Kings 8.38 39. When every one shall know the plague of his own heart then hear thou in Heaven c. When every one shall know his own fore 2 Chron. 6.29 30. and his own grief then hear thou in Heaven c. When a man may pray for pardon of sinne with inward hatred of it and heart grief for it then may he with comfort expect pardon Secondly Love the Grace you pray for A man cannot pray fervently for that he doth not love heartily Saith our Saviour to the woman of Samaria Joh. 4.10 If thou knewest the gift of God c. thou wouldst have asked c. If thou hadst known me and the worth of the Grace that I give this would have quickned thy desires to have asked of me and then I would have given thee living water The sence of the worth of grace draws love to it and these strengthen the desires of it And so much for this fourth thing propounded the duties or graces requisite in Prayer Fifthly Fifthly I shall shew you the gestures that are to be used in Prayer And I finde in Scripture principally these four Kneeling sifting up and spreading forth the Hands lifting up the Eyes and for men to uncover their Heads First Kneeling This is commanded O come let us worship Psal 95.6 and bow down and kneel before the Lord our Maker Here we see that religious kneeling is part of Divine worship It is but equity that he that made the body should be worshipped by or with the body And for as much as Jesus Christ hath redeemed our Bodies as well as our Souls he ought to be worshiped with our Bodies as well as Soules And so the Apostle argues 1 Cor. 6.20 For ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God Our bodies and soules are Gods not onely by right of Creation but also by right of Redemption therefore we must glorifie God by worshiping of him with our bodies as well as our souls And we finde in Scripture divers examples for kneeling in Prayer David he kneeled in prayer Psal 95.6 1 King 8.54 Dan. 6.10 and Solomon his sonne he kneeled on his knees in prayer Daniel he kneeled on his knees in prayer Stephen Acts 7.60 he kneeled down and prayed Peter Acts 9.14 he kneeled down and prayed Saint Paul Acts 20.36 he kneeled down and prayed he bowed his knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Ephes 3.14 and he in Mark 10.17 Mark 10.17 came kneeling to our Saviour And we find that all the people men women and children kneeled down and prayed Acts 21.5 All these Examples you have for kneeling in prayer Take one more who is the Pattern of all patternes our blessed Saviour himself Luke 22.41 He kneeled down and prayed A second Gesture used in Prayer is lifting up and spreading forth of Hands We must not onely lift up our hearts but also our hands to God in Prayer Lift up your hands in the Sanctuary Psal 134.2 and blesse the Lord 1 Tim. 2.8 I will that men pray every where lifting up pure hands And for this gesture also we have several Examples Moses Exod. 17.11 12. he held up his hands to God in prayer And David desired that the lifting up of his hads to God in Prayer may be acceptable as an evening sacrifice Psal 141.2 2 Chron. 6.13 Solomon he spread forth his hands to God in prayer and so did Ezra And I conceive this lifting up of the hands in Prayer is to be used to signifie these two things First that the heart is lift up to God saith the Prophet in the Lamentations Lam. 3.41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the Heavens That is let let your hearts be lift up as well as your hands Some lift up their hands while their hearts hang down in Prayer but doe you lift up your hearts first and then lift up your hands to signifie your hearts are also lift up to God Job 11.13 If thou prepare thine heart and streach out thine hands towards him Streach out thy hands to him to signifie thou hast already given thy heart to him in Prayer Secondly lifting up the hands in prayer it signifies our depending upon Gods power to help and assist us in time of need As a Child that is in danger of falling he stretcheth out his hand to his Father for help So in Prayer the hands are lift up to God as a signe of expecting help from him Saith David Hear the voice of my supplication Psal 28.2 when I cry unto thee when I lift up my hands towards thy holy Oracle By stretching forth our hands to God in Prayer we doe as it were tell him that we depend wholly upon him for help favour mercy and pardon and that unlesse he help and deliver us we are lost and undone for ever A third gesture in Prayer is lifting up of the Eyes For this we have the example of our blessed Saviour John 11.41 Joh. 17.1 Psal 123.1 2.3 He lift up his Eyes and prayed And so did David Unto thee lift I up mine Eyes This lifting up of the Eyes in prayer it hath the same signification with the former of lifting up of the Hands Lifting up the Eye it signifies the eye of Faith and Hope depending upon Gods help and assistance The fourth and last Gesture in prayer Lastly is for men to have the Head uncovered This the Apostle teacheth where he saith 1 Corin. 11.4 Every man praying or prophesying having his head
of the body expresse the inward reverence and humility of the heart Use all the reverence that is sutable to the duty unlesse age or extream weaknesse of body disinable thee Ezek. 33.31 We finde examples in Scripture of sitting to hear the Word but throughout the whole Book of God I remember not any example of sitting in Prayer Wherefore I beseech you use as much reverence in the duty as you can And so much for this fifth thing propounded Sixthly Sixthly I come to lay down some Motivies to presse you to the performance of the duty of Prayer and they shall be of two sorts 1. The necessity of the Duty 2. The benefit that comes by the performance thereof First of the necessity of the duty of Prayer First It is necessary in these four repects First it is necessary because God hath commanded it In the Text and in several places throughout the Book of God I shall not need to mention them It is necessary we should manifest our obedience by yeilding to Gods commands therefore Pray Secondly it is necessary because without Prayer we can have no sanctified use of the Creatures For every creature of God is good 1 Tim. 4.4 5. and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving For it is sanctified by the Word and Prayer It is one thing to have the Creature an other thing to have a Sanctified use of the creature this is not obtained but by Prayer Thirdly it is necessary because there is no drawing water out of the wells of Salvation but by the bucket of faithful Prayer Isai 12.3 With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation Gods Ordinances are the wells of Salvation and faithful Prayer is the bucket that fetcheth the water of Consolation out of these wells Fourthly Lastly and lastly Prayer is necessary because without it we cannot obtain Gods blessing but are exposed to Gods curse ler. 10 25. Psal 79.6 Pour out thy wrath upon the Heathen and upon the Families that call not upon thy Name A second sort of Motives to Prayer Secondly shall be taken from the benefits that come by Prayer and they are many First If you pray aright to God you shall not lose your labour but you shall be sure to speed Ask and ye shall have c. Mat. 7.7 I said not to the house of Jacob seek ye me in vain To be sure Isa 45.19 if you labour in this or in any work of God your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. 15.58 Secondly Prayer is a signe of true Conversion by this the Lord would manifest unto Annanias that Saul was converted and he might safely goe to him For behold he prayeth Acts 9.11 Thirdly Prayer is alwayes accompanied with Salvation Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord Rom. 10.13 shall be saved Fourthly Prayer it is sweet and pleasant in Gods ears Saith Christ to the Church Cant. 2.14 Let me hear thy voice Psal 141.2 Rev. 5.8 chap. 8.3 4. for sweet is thy voice The Prayers of the Saints are unto God as Incense and sweet Odours for so they are called in Scripture Fifthly When nothing else can give comfort and ease the heart of grief yet Prayer will Saith David Psal 31.22 I said in my haste I am cut off before thine eyes neverthelesse then thou heardest the voice of my supplication when I cryed unto thee It is good to have a bosome friend and the very opening of our grief to such is an ease to the heart Sixthly Prayer is the onely way to get the heart filled with spiritual Graces as Joy John 16.24 c. Ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full Let those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee Psal 40.16 The Apostle uses Prayer as a means by which all Grace should be wrought in the Ephesians Ephes 3.14 16. to 20 ver Seventhly By prayer we approach into Gods presence Psal 95.2 God will not hide his face from his praying servants Psal 22.24 But of an Hypocrite it is said Job 13.16 He shall not come before him A rogue may beg without the gate but he may not be suffred to come within doors The upright soul that seeks God Psal 140.13 shall dwell in his Presence The eighth and last Motive that I shall use to presse you to the duty of Prayer Lastly it shall be taken from the goodnesse and power of God And that doth appear in these four things First he hath stiled himself a God hearing Prayer Psal 65.2 O thou that hearest prayer unto thee shall all flesh come And of the righteous that seek him 1 Pet. 3.12 it is said his ears are open to their Prayers Secondly God is able to supply all his peoples needs So saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 9.8 God is able to make all grace to abound towards you He is able to doe exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think Ephes 3.20 But may some say If God be able to supply my need if he be not willing what encouragement is this to Prayer And therefore in the third place Gods is as willing to hear and help his people as he is able And this doth appear in that he saith He delights to exercise loving kindnesse Jer. 9.24 He waits that he may be gracious Isa 30.18 He is very pittiful Jam. 5.11 and of tender mercy Psal 103.13 As a Father pittieth his children No sooner do Gods people in their distresse cry unto him but he being nigh at hand he readily hears and helps them The righteous Psal 34.17 18. cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart Fourthly and lastly Lastly God hath made many promises to hear and help those that pray unto him and these you shall find in several places throughout the whole book of God I shall onely mention two Isa 65.24 Before they call I will answer and whiles they are yet speaking I will hear The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him Psal 145.18 19. to all that call upon him in truth He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him he also will hear their cry and will save them Thus you have heard divers Motives to the duty of Prayer Now I beseech you let them take impression upon your hearts whereby you may be moved to set upon and be constant in the duty of Prayer So much for the sixt thing I come now to the seaventh thing propounded to be spoken to and that is The times of Prayer Saith the Apostle in the words following my Text Without ceasing 1 Thes 5.17 or continually I shall 1. Shew you what is meant by praying continually or without ceasing 2. I shall shew
Saith Solomon Prov. 1.32 The prosperity of fooles shall destroy them They have no right to it they shall be the worse for it But lest I should be mistaken when I say wicked men that pray not have no right to the outward things they doe enjoy my meaning is they have no right to them by the vertue of any promise neither can they have a sanctified use of them but they have a right to them in regard of Gods free bounty Psal 17.14 for he giveth them the things of this world as their portion and it is all the comfort they shall ever have Son Luk. 16.25 remember that thou in thy life time receivedst thy good things You see the things of this world are called the wicked mans portion his good things therefore they have a right to them and no man ought in the least to wrong or injure them in them But on the contrary Gods faithful servants that pray unto him they have a right too and a sanctified use of all the blessings they doe enjoy First they have a right to them saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 3.22 23. All things are yours and ye are Christs And secondly by Prayer every creature is sanctified unto them for their good 1 Tim. 4.4.5 It must needs therefore be farre better with him that prays than with him that pray not But may some say 4. Objection I am unable to pray I would pray but I want Faith and the Spirit of Prayer I Answer Answ It is a good signe in the sense of the want of Grace to desire it Let not this therefore detain thee from the Duty For first thou maiest have Faith though thou feelest it not In Christs feeling his Father had forsaken him Mat. 27.46 If thou mournest for nothing more then the want of Faith it is a signe thou hast it In the Gospel Mar. 9.24 The Father of the Child cryed out with tears Lord I believe help thou my unbelief If thou desirest nothing so much as to believe it is a signe thou hast Faith For as lusting after a woman is Adultery Mat. 5.28 so lusting after Christ is Faith because God accepts of the will for the deed therefore let not this discourage thee Secondly a man may have the Spirit of prayer and pray effectually and acceptably when in his own feeling his heart is utterly indisposed to prayer Thus it was with Asaph in Psal 77.2 3 4. My soul refused to be comforted I remembred God and was troubled c. I am so troubled that I cannot speak Psal 77.1 Yet for all this verse the first God gave ear unto him And saith David I am feeble and sore broken I have roared by reason of the disquietnesse of my heart And yet in the next Verse he saith Lord all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hid from thee Psal 38.8 9. O how sadly did Hezekiah mourn Isa 38.14 ver 5. and chatter in his Prayers yet God heard and answered him It is not the brokennesse of our expressions that hinders the answer of our Prayers if the heart be throughly broken for sinne No no when words fail tears will speak and they have a voice in Gods ears Saith David The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping Psal 6.8 Psal 39.12 Hold not thy peace at my tears Thou tellest my wandrings Psal 56.8 put thou my tears in thy bottle are they not in thy book Yes yes beloved all the tears that Gods servants shed before him for their sinnes they are all put into his Bottle and recorded in his Book Therefore let not the sense of thine own weaknesse and inability keep thee from thy duty but goe to God mourn for thy wants and begge supply of him and he will answer thee Fifthly I would fain pray 5. Objection but I am so sinful and unworthy a wretch I dare not I know God heareth not sinners John 9.31 yet such a one am I and therefore I dare not pray I Answer Answ Take heed thou dost not mistake the Text nor thy condition If God heareth no man that sinneth then no man should be ever heard of God For there is not a just man upon earth that doth good Eccles 7.20 and sinneth not And therefore for the meaning of the Text know that the sinners that God will not hear They are such as live and lie in their sinnes without repentance rejecting the worship and will of God such sinners as these God heareth not he will not accept of a good motion from such a bad mouth but as it followeth in that place John 9 31. If any man be a worshipper of God and doth his will him he heareth In every Nation Acts 10.35 he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him But for a further and fuller answer to the Objection know First the sense of thy finfulnesse and unworthinesse should not keep thee from thy duty of praying Psal 40.12 13. David cryed out of his sinnes that they were more then the haires of his head yet he prayed And Ezra Ezra 9.6 by reason of his sinnes was ashamed to lift up his face to God yet he prayed Saint Paul had a deep sense of his sinnes 1 Tim. 1.15 Ephes 3.8 Acts 9.12 he said he was the chief of all Sinners and lesse then the least of all Saints yet behold he prayeth Secondly The more heinous our sinnes are the more need have we to seek to God for mercy They that be whole need not a Physician but they that are sick Thirdly The sense of sinne makes us more capable of mercy none more welcome to God then they that are most sensible of their sinnes See it in five examples in Scripture First The woman that was cured of her bloody issue she came behind Christ as being ashamed to look him on the face and she desired but to touch the hem of his garment Mat. 9.20 21 22. yet she was cured Secondly The Centurion who thought himself not worthy to come to Christ or that Christ should come under his roof Luke 7.6 7 10. yet his request was granted Thirdly The Prodigal who acknowledged to his Father his sinnes and unworthinesse to be called his sonne Luke 15.20 21 22. yet his Father embraced him and entertained him Fourthly The Publican who in the sense of his own unworthinesse durst not lift up his eyes to Heaven and to shew his indignation against himself for his sinnes he smote upon his breast yet was he justified Luk. 18.13 14. acquitted for his sinnes and received to mercy The fifth and last example is the woman of Canaan she acknowledged her self to be a Dog Mat. 15.27 28. yet her prayer was answered By all which examples you see that those that are most sensible of their sinnes are most welcome to God It is not so much sinne as
peoples prayers but anguish and trouble of mind is the cause why they regard it not And thus I have gone through the eight things I propounded at first concerning Prayer I have shewed you 1. What Prayer is 2. The several Kindes of Prayer 3. The Preparations to Prayer 4. The Duties in it 5. The Gestures of Prayer 6. The Motives to Prayer 7. The Times of Prayer 8. And lastly I have answered divers Objections concerning Prayer I come now to make Use and Application of all that hath been said And the Uses shall be 1. For Instruction 2. For Reprehension 3. For Consolation 4. And lastly For Exhortation The first Use shall be for Instruction 1. Use Instruction And what hath been said may Instruct us 1. Concerning the right manner of praying 2. Concerning the power and efficacy of Prayer 1. We may be instructed in the right manner of Prayer 1. Instruct Ye heard in the Definition of prayer that it is a pouring out of the heart and soul to God c. First then It lets us see that dead dull formal heartlesse Prayers are not pleasing unto God If we lift up our hands and eyes to God and not our hearts and soules we can have no comfortable hopes of being answered This was that which gave David confidence of being answered in his Prayer For I lift up my soul unto thee Psa 14.38 Rejoyce the soul of thy servant Psa 86.4 for unto thee O Lord doe I lift up my soul Cold heartlesse prayers are sinful prayers Observe this evermore as a certain truth in prayer the colder the sutour the greater thr sinner Secondly It lets us see that wicked men that have not the Spirit of God cannot please God in their praying True prayer is a work of Gods spirit and so floweth from the spirit and heart of man as ye have heard Prov. 15.8 And therefore the heartlesse prayers of wicked men are abomination unto God Their cryes are no better in his esteeme then the howlings of beasts Saith the Lord They have not cryed unto me with their heart Hos 7.14 when they howled upon their beds Their cryes in Gods ears are no better then the cryes of a Dog when they cut off his neck Isa 66.3 Thus odious are the Prayers of wicked and ungodly men in Gods esteeme A second Use of Instruction Is to let us see the power of Prayer Instruction I told you in the Motives to prayer That by prayer we obtain whatsoever we ask at the hands of God I shall now shew you several Examples in Scripture of the power of Prayer 1. Jam. 5.17 18. By prayer Elias staied the Rain 3 yeers and again obtained rain 1 King 17.21 22. By Prayer also he restored to life the Widowes sonne And by Prayer he obtained Fire from Heaven to destroy the Captains 2 King 1.10 to 13. and their Fifties 2. 2 King 2.9 10. By Prayer Elisha had the spirit of Elias doubled upon him By Prayer he raised from death the Shunamites sonne And he prayed 2 King 6.17 18. and his Servants eyes were opened and his Enemies smote with blindnesse 3. Gen. 21.17 to 20. By Prayer Hagars eyes were opened whereby she saw a Well to refresh her and her son And by Prayer Sampson had water out of a Jawbone to strengthen and revive them Judg. 15.18 19. 4. 1 Sam. 12.18 By Prayer Samuel procured Thunder to punish the Israelites 5. Iosh 10.12 13. By Prayer Joshua caused the Sunne and Moon to stand still a whole day 2 King 20.11 And by Prayer Isaiah caused the sunne to goe back tenne degrees 6. Gen. 19.19 c. By Prayer Lot saved Zoar when the Cities of Sodom and Gomorah were burnt with fire from Heaven 7. Job 42.8 9 10. By Prayer Iob pacified the Wrath of God being kindled against his Friends and obtained a double Portion of that he lost 8. Exod. 8 9 chap. By Prayer Moses moved God to take away many Plagues that were brought upon the Aegyptians Lastly That I may not be too tedious I shall mention some of the multitude of Deliverances that are mentioned in Scripture which were procured as an answer of Prayer By Prayer Iacob was delivered from the wrath of Esau Gen. 32.11 12. By Prayer the Israelites were delivered out of Aegypt Exod 3.7 8. By Prayer Iossiah was delivered from the Plagues threatned to come upon him 2 King 22.19 21. By Prayer Iehoshaphat was delivered from the Moabites and Amorites 2 Chron. 20.12 22. By Prayer the three Children were delivered from the Fiery Furnate Dan. 3. By Prayer Daniel was delivered from the Den of Lyons Dan 6.22 By Prayer Ionah was delivered out of the Whales belly Jona 2.10 By Prayer Nineveh was delivered from the Judgement threatned Jona 3.10 By Prayer Iehoahaz was delivered from the oppressing hand of the King of Syria 2 King 13.4 5. By Prayer Manasseh was delivered from the Babylonian Captivity 2 Chron. 33.11 12 13. By Prayer Peter was delivered out of Prison Acts 12.5 c. And by Prayer also Paul and Silas were delivered out of Prison Acts 16.25 26. O the Power of Prayer O the many Miraculous things that have been done by Prayer I could instance in many examples that I have read in History but I forbare to mention them let those formerly mentioned be sufficient And so much for this first Use which hath been for Instruction 2. Use Reprehension I come now to the second Use which is for Reprehension It is the duty of the people of God to pray and that constantly every day in the manner that hath been before mentioned Then here come divers persons to be reprehended First those that pray not at all First Certainly it is a most grievous sinne to be ever in the neglect of this duty It is given as a note of a most wicked and ungodly person not to call upon God Psal 14.4 5. Wicked men will have nothing to doe with God and God will have nothing to doe with them They cast off God and God will cast off them Whosoever they be that goe on in the constant neglect of this duty they are exposed to Gods wrath and curse Jer. 10.25 Pour out thy wrath upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon the Families that call not upon thy Name They who neglect Prayer expose themselves to all manner of sinnes and temptations for Prayer is the onely remedy to prevent sinne Saith Christ Luk. 22.46 Pray lest ye enter into temptation And therefore he that neglects to pray often will lie open to all assaults of Satan and be in danger of utter falling away from all goodnesse into all manner of sinne and lewdnesse and hereby expose himself to Gods eternal Curse Secondly Secondly Those are to be reproved that are lasie and
sluggish in Prayer Some never pray till they be in bed others compose themselves to such Gestures as make them sleepy in Prayer Mat. 26.41 Is this to watch and pray Is not this lasie sluggish praying a negligent doing of Gods work And can you ever think God will be pleased with such kind of service No no in stead of a blessing it will bring a curse upon thee Saith the Prophet Cursed is he that doth the work of the Lord deceitfully That is Jer. 48.10 that doth it negligently slothfully slowly God is much provoked by lasie slugish Prayers Thirdly Thirdly Those are to be reproved that have evil ends in their praying Ye ask and receive not Jam. 4.3 because ye ask amisse that ye may consume it upon your lusts When a mans ends in Prayer are bad his Prayer cannot be good Fourthly Fourthly those are to be reproved that pray for light and slight things As for example when men are at play to pray to God to win the game or the like These kind of prayers are very displeasing to God and is a taking his Name in vain Fifthly Fifthly Those are to be reprehended that are Formal and Hypocritical in their Prayers that pray without any delight in the work that seek God by fits and not in sincerity Iob speaking of the Hypocrite saith Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him Job 27.9 10. Will he delight himself in the Almighty Will he alwayes call upon God No he will not For he that serves not God out of the love he bears to him cannot delight in Gods service neither will he be constant therein But the Hypocrite and meer Formalist doe not serve God out of the love they bear to him therefore they cannot delight in Gods service neither will they be constant therein neither doth God accept of them or their Prayers Sixthly Sixthly Those are to be reproved that Pray without judgement or understanding or for things unlawful A man may pray with good affections and yet sinne because he prayes not with judgement he understands not what he prays for And therefore saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 14.15 I will pray with the Spirit and I will pray with understanding also I will understand and know what I pray for And Christ blameth the mother of Zebedees as children for asking she knew not what Mat. 20.22 O what a sad thing is it that any should be so sottishly ignorant as to think they pray to God when they are saying the Ten Commandements yet I fear there are such amongst us If there be I pray let me ask you these two things 1. Whom do you pray to 2. What do you pray for First Whom do you pray to when you say the Ten Commandements If you say you pray to God as all our Prayers ought to be directed to him then tell me Is it not horrid Blasphemy to say Thou shalt have no other Gods but me c that thou shouldest speak to God and tell him what is contained in the Ten Commandements thinking while thou art so doing thou art praying to him O what a sad thing is this For in the Ten Commandements God speaks to us and therein teaches us our duties to him Secondly Tell me what doe you pray for in the Ten Commandements can you tell me surely no For all our requests we make to God are reduced by the Apostle to these four Heads 1 Tim. 2.1 Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks 1. Supplications for the removal of Evils 2. Prayer for the obtaining of good things 3. Intercession in the behalf of others 4. Thanksgiving for benefits received Now tell me if any of you can apply any one of these to any of the Commandements If not then learn to understand them and teach them to your children that you and they may know your duties to God and your Neighbour but use them not as Prayers For in Prayer we speak to God in the Ten Commandements God speaks to us And those that use the Creed as a prayer deserve also to be reproved the Arguments before used may be sufficient to prove they pray without judgement An other sort that pray without judgement are those that pray for unlawful things as those who would have fire from Heaven to destroy their enemies but saith Christ to them Luke 9 54 You know not of what spirit you are Seventhly Those are to be reproved that pray but yet resolve to go on in their sinnes Gods service is pretended but the Devils work is performed by them You that regard not Gods Lawes and Commands but are lewd and ungodly cruel and unmerciful do you think God will hear your voice when you will not hearken to his voice Prov. 28.9 He that turns away his ear from hearing the Law even his Prayers shall be an abomination It is just with God Prov. 1.24 c. that when we refuse to hear him he should refuse to hear us Saith David If I regard iniquity in my heart Psal 66.18 the Lord will not hear me If thy heart incline to sinne Gods ear will not incline to thy Prayer If thou sinnest with delight God will not delight in thee nor in thy Prayers Jer. 14.10 11 12. Thus saith the Lord unto this people thus have they loved to wander they have not refrained their feet therefore the Lord doth not accept them and it follows pray not for this people for their good when they fast I will not hear their cry You see that those that delight in sinne God will neither hear their Prayers for themselves nor others for them Saith the Lord Pray not thou for this people Jer. 7.16 neither lift up a cry nor prayer for them neither make intercession to me for I will not hear thee And also if thou beest unmerciful to others God will not hear thy Prayers nor shew mercy unto thee Prov. 21.13 Who so stoppeth his ear at the cry of the poor he shall also cry himself but shall not be heard He shall have judgement without mercy Jam. 2.13 that hath shewed no mercy Eightly and lastly Lastly All those deserve to be reproved that pray without Faith and fervency He that prays doubtingly Jam. 1.6 7 prays sinfully and shall get nothing by praying He that hath not Faith in God can never prevail with God in Prayer Mark 11.22 23 24. For Faith is the condition upon which the promise of answer of prayers is made To which also must be added Fervency Jam. 5.16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much And therefore those that have neither Faith nor Fervency in their prayers deserve to be reprehended So much for this Use I come now to the third Use 2. Use Consolation and that is for Consolation And that for all those that are faithful and fervent constant and frequent in this duty of Prayer That pray
every day in their Family or in secret or both in their Family or secretly For your Comfort go along with me in these eight or nine things following First There is no Family where Prayer is constantly used Morning and Evening but God usually blesseth those Families As God blessed the house of Obed Edom 2 Sam. 6.11 because the Ark was in his house So God blesseth those Families where prayers are daily used Secondly There are no secret prayers made unto God but shall be answered Saith Christ When thou Prayest enter into thy closet Mat. 6.6 and when thou hast shut thy door pray to thy Father which is in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly Thirdly If thou canst pray in Faith it is a certain signe thou haft the truth of Grace thou art a child of God and shalt be saved 1. It is a signe of the truth of grace Saith the Lord I will pour upon them the spirit of grace and supplication Zach. 12.10 He that hath the spirit of Supplication hath the spirit of Grace first otherwise he could not have the spirit of Supplication 2. It is a signe thou art a child of God Saith the Apostle Gal. 4.6 Because ye are sonnes God hath sent forth the spirit of his Sonne into your hearts crying Abba Father If thou wert not a sonne thou couldest not call upon God as a Father 3. It is a certain signe thou shalt be saved Rom. 10.13 For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved He that by Faith calls upon God may misse of the particular mercy he begs for here but he may be assured he shall not misse Eternal Salvation hereafter For the spirit of Supplication is a certain signe of Salvation 4. If thy heart be sincere in thy Prayers to God God will accept of thee although thou hast many failings For if there be first a willing minde 2 Cor. 8.12 it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not God accepts not of our service according to the worthinesse of the work but the willingnesse of the mind in the work So as he that unfainedly prays for and earnestly desires Faith Repentance and other graces he hath these graces in Gods esteem because God accepts of the will for the deed 5. If thou in the want of ability to utter words to God as thou desirest canst weep before the Lord and sobbe out thy complaints with sighs and groanes These thy desires is a certain signe thou hast the spirit of Prayer for these sighes and groanes could not be in thy prayers to God but from the Spirit of God helping thy infirmities in the duty as the Apostle saith Rom. 8.26 The spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit it self maketh intercession for us with greanings which cannot be uttered These unutterable groanes proceed from the supernatural motion of Gods Spirit in thee Sixthly If thou canst sincerely seek God by Prayer thou maiest have comfort in all afflictions and trials that befal thee You shall find David complaining of the unkind dealing of his Adversaries Psalme 109. but saith he ver 4. I give my self unto Prayer Psa 109.4 As if he should have said I use no unlawful meanes against them but my onely refuge and defence is prayer unto God So did Job Job 16.20 My friends scorne me but mine eyes poureth out tears unto God I weep in my prayers and wait upon God to right my case And doubtlesse those that accustome themselves to a constant course of seeking God shall have cause to rejoyce and magnifie God in the greatest trials that can befal them according to that prophetical prayer of David Psa 40.16 Let all those that seek thee rejoyce and be glad in thee let such as love thy salvation say continually the Lord be magnified Seventhly If thou keepest thy heart in a constant course of praying unto God It is a certain signe that the sinne or judgement thou prayest against shall be removed or the mercy thou prayest for shall be granted Exod. 17.11 While Moses held up his hands in Prayer Israel prevailed There was no fear of enemies Conquering while Moses was praying And you shall find Moses devotion prevented Gods indignation against his people Exodus 32.10 to 15 verse saith the Lord to Moses Let me alone that my wrath may wax hot against them and that I may consume them But Moses would not let God alone but continued praying for them His Prayers are answered the Judgement is diverted Verse 14. Exod. 32 14. And the Lord repented him of the evil which he thought to doe unto his people And Jacob Gen. 32.26 29. who continued wrestling for a blessing obtained it If Prayer be not slackned mercy shall be speeded If thou continuest in a constant course of praying against sinne for grace and for the removal of judgements or afflictions know for thy comfort thy sinnes shall be pardoned grace shall be conferred and the judgements or afflictions shall be removed from thee or sanctified to thee for thy good Eightly It is certain That that God that calleth thee to the duty of Prayer he is able ready and willing to hear and help thee When Bartimeus went to Christ for his eye-sight and it was told him Be of good comfort Mark 10.49 arise he calleth thee Out of all question at this report the heart of Bartimeus leapt within him and he was confident that seeing Christ called him he intended to grant his request in restoring his sight So beloved you may be confident that God that calls you to the duty of Prayer he intends to hear and answer you For he is able to help you Psa 115.3 Our God is in Heaven and he doth whosoever he pleaseth And he is willing to help and comfort you For like as a Father pittieth his children Psal 103.13 so the Lord pittieth them that fear him Ninethly and lastly Lastly All the Prayers of Gods faithful servants on earth shall undoubtedly be heard and answered in Heaven This is alwayes true with these three Cautions First That thou beest a Righteous person that doth the will of God Jam. 5.16 The Prayer of the Righteous availeth much Saith Christ Joh. 15.7 If ye abide in me and my words abide in you ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you Secondly If ye ask in the Name of Christ For so saith Christ Iohn 16.23 Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name he shall give it you Thirdly If your Prayers be according to the will of God Saith the Apostle This is the confidence that we have in him 1 John 5.14 that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us Onely know this That although the Prayers of Gods servants shall be
answered yet it may be not presently You must not exspect the Mercies you pray for when you will no but ye must wait Gods time which is the best time Saith the Prophet Isa 28.16 He that believeth maketh not haste He is content to stay himself upon God and wait his leasure So did David Psal 40.1 I waited patiently upon the Lord and he enclined unto me and heard my cry And so did the Church in Isaiah I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the house of Jacob and I will look for him I shall conclude this Use with that in Isaiah 30.18 Isa 30.18 And therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious to you and therefore will he be exalted that he may have mercy upon you for the Lord is a God of judgement Blessed are all they that wait for him So much for the third Use which hath been for Consolation I come now to the fourth and last Use 4. Use Lastly which is for Exhortation Is it so Exhortation that it is the Duty of all the people of God to Pray Then I beseech you be exhorted to the performance of the Duty In the prosecution of this Use I shall First give you divers directions in the Duty of Prayer Secondly I shall answer two material Questions concerning Prayer Thirdly and lastly I shall lay down some Encouragements to the Duty of Prayer First Directions in Prayer of the first I shall lay down nine or tenne Directions in the duty of Prayer First Labour to be reconciled to Christ that your person may be accepted and you may be in favour with God Till this be done your Prayers will not be answered God accepted of Abel first Gen. 4.4 then he accepted of his Sacrifice His Faith in the promised Messiah was that which made both his person and Sacrifice accepted with God Heb. 11.4 So by Faith get an interest in Christ and then both thy person and thy Prayers shall be accepted Secondly For the matter of your Prayers be sure they be for such things as are agreeable to Gods will Thou hast no warrant to ask what God hath not promised to give For this purpose it is requisite you should be well versed in the Scriptures And then turn the Promises into Prayers so shall you speak to God in his own language your requests shall be according to his will 1 John 5.14 and then you may be confident you shall be heard Thirdly Approach to God in Prayer with a contrite and broken heart for sinne As God will not despise a contrite and broken heart Psal 51.17 so neither will he despise the Prayers that proceed from such a heart When the heart is broken for sinne God will also break that heart from sinne and satisfie the desires of that soul Fourthly Take heed of wandring thoughts in Prayer and let thy heart and thy tongue goe alwayes together Wandring thoughts or vaine thoughts are bad at any time worst of all in Prayer God complaines of them Jer. 4.14 How long shall vaine thoughts lodge within thee Doe thou complain of them to God And seek not that with thy tongue which thy heart doth not desire for if thou dost God seeth thy hypocrsie and will hate thee for it Heb. 4.13 For all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to doe in Prayer Fifthly Take a Catalogue of and bear in minde all the sinnes thou art to pray against and all the graces thou art to pray for Mind also the mercies and blessings thou art to pray for And think also of the mercies and blessings thou hast received to be thankfull for them The serious thoughts and meditations of these things will furnish thee with sufficient matter for Prayer Sixthly in all thy Prayers have a high esteem of God Saith Soloman Eccles 5.2 Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing before God for God is in Heaven and thou upon Earth therefore let thy words be few Think seriously what a God it is thou speakest to these thoughts will make thee reverent and serious in the duty Seventhly In all your Prayers to God be as ready to be thankful to God for what you have received as to seek him for what you want I fear it is a sinne too common amongst Gods children to be so mindful of what they want as to forget to be thankful for what they have But take heed of this the way to obtain new mercies is to be thankful for the old Saith David Psal 116.12 13. What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. As if he should have said I will be thankful to God for what I have and I will call upon him for more blessings Eighthly When you have ended your Prayers Take heed you rest not in the Duty but mourn for the sinnes of the Duty and look up to God for an Answer So did David Psal 5.3 In the morning I will direct my Prayer unto thee and I will look up He doth not rest in the duty done but continued praying and looking up to God for an answer So doe you take heed you rest not in the duty neither let the work be tedious to you For as painfulnesse of speaking argueth a sick body so doth irksomnesse in praying a sick soul Ninethly Let Gods glory be your utmost aime in all your Prayers Seek not your selves nor your own ends in your Supplications but the glory of God onely Saith Christ John 8.50 I seek not my own glory Neither should we seek our own glory in any thing we doe much lesse in Prayer For if Gods glory be not our ends and aimes in Prayer it will render our prayers odious unto God Tenthly and lastly Lastly Take heed of a selvish spirit in Prayer Pray not onely for your selves and your Friends but as the Apostle exhorts for all men of all degrees 1 Tim. 2.1 2. Magistrates and Ministers c. Pray not onely for your friends that pleasure you but also for your enemies that despitefully use you as our Saviour exhorts Mat. 5.44 The more publick our spirits are in the duty of Prayer the more pleasing are our Prayers unto God It is good to have a publick spirit in private duties Take heed therefore of a selvish or private spirit in the duty of Prayer Thus by way of Exhortation I have given you divers directions in the duty of Prayer observe them for your good I come now in the second place to Answer two material Questions concerning Prayer The first is this 1. Quest. I cannot tell how to pray I want utterance Whether or no is not my reading a Form of Prayer acceptable with God in this case It is farre better to use the
THE CHRISTIANS DAYLY PRACTICE OR A practical discourse of PRAYER By Sampson Tounesend Minister of Gods Word at Hackford in Whitwell in Norffolke Even and morning and at noon will I pray and cry aloud and he shall hear my voice Psal 55.17 Imprimatur EDM. CALAMY LONDON Printed by E. M. for George Calvert at the signe of the Half-Moon in St. Pauls Church-yard TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL his very much honoured Friend BARNARD CHURCH Esq Alderman and Magistrate of the Famous City of NORWICH Worthy Sir WHen I had Preacht several Sermons upon the subject of Prayer I blesse God they were not without some profit For I was earnestly desired by a Religious Gentleman of my Parish to give him the Heads thereof in writing for he told me he apprehended them a sufficient Rule to direct him in the whole course of his life as touching that Duty and resolved to make use of them for that purpose And when in order to the satisfying of his desires I had drawn out the Heads of those Sermons I thought with my self if they were represented to publick view they might take the same effect upon some other hearts in the reading that they did upon his in Hearing and I blesse God in some measure upon my own in the Preaching And Gods glory in the good of his Church being the main end I aimed at in being Ordained unto and entering upon the work of the Ministery hoping this end may be promoted as by my Preaching so by my Writing I have ventured upon the publication of this Treatise of Prayer and although many Learned Pens have published several Treatises on this subject and therefore it may be counted a bold presumption in me to expresse my weaknesse in writing For both my preaching and writing may possibly be esteemed by some as foollishnesse at least in comparison of those whose Learning and Eloquence of style is many times beyond the reach of ordinary capacities to understand them Yet am I not in the least discouraged therefrom seeing it pleaseth God by such preaching as the world counts Foolishnesse 1 Cor. 1.21 to save them that beleeve Having upon the former grounds adventured to write I have made bold to Dedicate these first fruits of my labours in this kind to your Worship That hereby I might expresse my thankfulnesse for the many favours I have received from you from time to time And although you cannot but discerne my weaknesse in the managing of so excellent a subject yet such is your goodnesse as you will not slight it because Prayer is the duty you deerly love and daily practice And you cannot but like any work though but meanly managed that may conduce to the quickning up of those to the Duty that are not yet brought into love with it Sir I doubt not of your love notwithstanding this bold adventure for your Piety Humility and holy Zeal mixed with Christian moderation is such as causeth you to love and respect all that love God and respect his glory But it is not my designe to enter upon that labyrinth of publishing to the world your Vertues Only this I may assert concerning you I hope without the least offence or suspicion of flattery That your Christian carriage is such as it bindeth all that love God and know you to love and honour you for the Vertues that shine so in you before the sonnes of men Mat. 5.16 as that the sons of God are moved according to divine precept to glorifie God for you Heb. 6.12 and to desire to Imitate you And it is no wonder that your life is so exemplary for he that prayeth well cannot chuse but live well He that daily improves grace by seeking daily supplies of grace shall have grace for grace John 1.13 or grace upon grace one grace after another a daily increase of grace until he arrive in glory Now I beseech you let me have a share in your Prayers to God for me 2 Tim. 2.15 That I may approve my self to God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth That I may fulfil my Ministery Col. 4.17 that I have received in the Lord That I may so live and teach as that I may both save my self and them that hear me 1 Tim. 4.16 Which is the continual prayer desire and endeavour of him that doth not cease to pray for you and who is Your humble servant in the Lord Jesus Christ Sampson Tounesend July 1. 1658. THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Reader I Have in the following Treatise presented thee with the epitomy of several Sermons of the duty of Prayer If thou art one that loves God thou canst not but love the Duty If thou lovest not God nor the Duty thy case is sad and much to be lamented For if thou dost not call upon God thou canst not live to the glory of God but hast a certain brand upon thee of one that doth no good but is wholly given over to all manner of sinne Psal 14.1 2 3 4. And if thou art one that doest but seldom perform the Duty and takest no delight in it let me tell thee although thou makest a profession of Religion yet thy heart is not right with God thou art an Hypocrite For so saith Job of such a one Iob 27.10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty will he alwayes call upon God No he will neither delight in God nor be constant in calling upon God Now that thou maist not be prophane and pray not at all or Hypocritical and pray but seldom and by fits but that thou maist be quickned up to the faithful and frequent performance of this so necessary a Duty I have written this following Treatise And for a further light in and Encouragement to the Duty I shall in this Epistle shew you 1. Several definitions of the Duty given by several Holy men 2. I shall shew you some Examples of the constant and frequent practice of the Duty Lastly I shall shew you the excellent and great priviledges that belong to Gods people that are frequent and constant in this duty of Prayer First for the several Definitions of Prayer I find many I shall name some It is a Religious calling upon the name of God by suite or request in which we desire all things necessary B. Usher It is a Religious presenting of our wills before God D. Amos. It is a lifting up of the mind to God Musculus It is an ardent and earnest laying open of our heart before God whereby from Faith in Christ we do either request or entreat for any thing or do give thanks for benefits received whereby is gathered that the Ten Commandements the Angels salutation and the rehearsing of the Creed are no Prayers because in those nothing is asked of God Bucanus common places Leighs body of Divin Robinsons Resolves though simple people use those as Prayers It is an humble
in Pauls Church-yard MYsteriorum Medulla Bibliorum The Mystery and Marrow of the Bible viz. Gods Covenants with man in the First Adam before the Fall and in the Last Adam Jesus Christ after the Fall From the beginning to the end of the World by Francis Roberts M. A. in fol. The Communicant instructed or practical directions for the worthy receiving the Lords Supper in octavo The Believers Evidences for eternal life in octa An Alphabetical Table of the chief things handled in this Treatise A Ability to pray shall not be wanting to him that goeth on in the duty pag. 118 Anguish of mind the cause why Gods people regard not answer of prayers pag. 73 Answer of prayers five wayes pag. 66 Answer of prayers sometimes as a judgment pag. 70 Asa's sin in seeking to the Physitian and not to God pag. 54 Ask in the name of Christ according to the will of God and thou shalt be answered pag. 100 What it is to ask in the Name of Christ pag. 13 No warrant to ask what God hath not promised to give pag. 103 God is more ready to answer than we are to ask pag. 120 B Better with him that prayeth than with him that prayeth not pag. 56 Benefits that come by prayer pag. 35 Blessings of God not to be expected without prayer pag. 46 Bodies as well as souls must worship God pag. 19 C Call of God to prayer a sign God intends to answer pag. 98 A Catalogue of sins of graces and of blessings will furnish thee with matter of prayer pag. 105 Cautions in reading forms of prayer pag. 112 Commandments no prayers pag. 85 Constant seeking God a certain sign God will answer pag. 96 Continual praying what is meant by it pag. 40 Creed no prayer pag. 87 D Daily prayers a means to obtain grace and to persevere and increase therein pag. 46 Dead dull formal heartlesse prayers are not pleasing unto God pag. 75 Delayes of God are no denials pag. 72 Directions in the duty of prayer pag. 102 The Divel is conquered and daily sins prevented by daily prayers pag. 47 48 Doubting in prayer sinful pag. 90 E Earthly things must be sought conditionally pag. 14 Ends bad in prayer spoil the duty pag. 83 Esteem highly of God in prayer pag. 106 Examples of frequent prayer See Epist to read Examples of five in Scripture that went to God in the sense of sin and obtained mercy pag. 64 Eyes lift up to God in prayer examples for it pag. 22 F Faith the condition upon which the promise of answer of prayers is made pag. 90 Faith may be when thou feelest it not pag. 59 Faithful praying is a sign of one that hath grace that is a child of God and shall be saved pag. 92 Family prayers bring a blessing upon the family pag. 91 Forms of prayer lawful pag. 110 G Gestures in prayer pag. 18 God must first speak to the heart before the heart can speak to God pag. 5 God must be sought in the use of means pag. 54 Gods goodnesse a motive to prayer pag. 37 Gods ready hearing others an encouragement to prayer pag. 121 Gods time the best time for answering prayers pag. 100 Gods glory only to be sought in prayer pag. 108 Grace in the heart will enable a man to pray without reading forms pag. 113 H Hands as well as hearts must be lifted up to God in prayer pag. 20 Hands lift up in prayer what it signifies pag. 21 Hate the sin you pray against pag. 16 Heart broken for sin shall be broken by God from sin pag. 104 Heart to pray where given God will lend an ear to hear pag. 115 Heavenly things must be sought absolutely pag. 14 Hypocrites serve not God out of the love they bear to him pag. 84 Humility requisite in prayer pag. 10 I If thy heart incline to sin Gods ear will not incline to thy prayers pag. 89 Incouragements four to the duty of prayer pag. 117 Instructions in the right manner of prayer pag. 75 Interest in Christ makes both our persons and our prayers accepted pag. 102 K Kneeling a part of divine worship pag. 18 Kneeling in prayer examples for it pag. 19 Knowledge requisite in prayer pag. 9 L Labours to no purpose without Gods blessing pag. 55 A lasie posture in prayer is not to be used pag. 28 Lasie and sluggish prayers provoke God pag. 82 Love to our brethren requisite in prayer pag. 10 Love not long prayers pag. 15 Love the grace you pray for pag. 17 M Meditation a help to prayer pag. 8 Men to be uncovered in prayer pag. 23 Mental prayer pag. 6 Morning and Evening the fittest times for prayer pag. 44 Motives to prayer pag. 33 N Needs of Gods people God is able and willing to supply pag. 38 Necessity of prayer in four respects pag. 33 O Objections against prayer answered pag. 50 Order in prayer required pag. 14 Outward gestures when they may be omitted pag. 25 P Power of prayer in divers examples pag. 77 Prayer what it is pag. 4 Prayer several definitions thereof See the Epistle to the Reader Pray that you may pray pag. 7 Prayer several requisites in it pag. 9 c. To pray for light and slight things a taking Gods Name in vain pag. 83 Prayers five several wayes answered pag. 66 Prayers answered as a judgment and denied as a mercy pag. 70 Prayer gives comfort in all afflictions pag. 95 Prayer may be effectual when a man is indisposed to it and distracted in it pag. 59 Prayer is the Bucket by which we draw water out of the Wells of salvation pag. 34 Prayer neglected exposes a man to all sins and temptations pag. 81 82 Pray aright and be sure to speed pag. 35 Preparations to prayer pag. 7 Pride keeps men from prayer pag. 65 Priviledges of the praying Christian see the Epistle to the Reader Promises to prayer pag. 39 He that turns the promises into prayers speaks to God in his own language pag. 103 Q Questions two concerning prayer answered pag. 110 R Reasons six for daily prayers pag. 45 Reproof for those that pray without judgment or understanding pag. 85 Reproof for those that use irreverent gestures in prayer pag. 29 Rest not in the duty of prayer pag. 107 Reverence in prayer exhorted to pag. 31 Reverence in prayer an effect of faith pag. 27 S Sacrifices under the Old Law morning and evening figured out the Christians daily prayers pag. 44 Secret prayers shall be answered pag. 91 Sense of sin should not keep us from prayer pag. 63 Sighs and groans a sign of the spirit of prayer and accepted with God pag. 94 Sincerity in prayer accepted with God although there be many failings pag. 95 What sinners God will not hear pag. 62 Sitting in prayer not found in Scripture pag. 32 Not greatnesse of sinne but want of faith keeps men from seeking Gods mercy pag. 5 T Tears have a voice in Gods ears pag. 60 Temporal things must be
others So much for the second thing I come to the third thing propounded Thirdly The Preparations to Prayer I shall mention onely two 1. Prayer 2. Meditation First Prayer Pray that you may pray Pray that God would direct you how to pray Thus did David Psal 141.1 2. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice Set a watch O Lord before my mouth keep the dore of my lips As if he should have said O Lord do thou so order and direct me in my Prayers that there may not a word proceed out of my mouth but what is acceptable unto thee When a man prays dayly that he may pray by his constant custome of praying he will be the better fitted for Prayer A second preparation to prayer is Meditation Especially meditate on these three things First Meditate upon the Infinite greatnesse of the Majesty of that God to whom thou prayest Be not rash with thy mouth Ecles 5.2 and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God For God is in Heaven and thou upon Earth therefore let thy words be few This meditation of Gods greatnesse will make thee humble as it did Jacob Gen. 32.9 10. who acknowledged he was not worthy of the least of all the mercies of God Secondly Meditate on the Promises of God Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will hear thee Mat. 7.7 Ask and it shall be given you With many others of the like nature this Meditation will make thee confident in Prayer Thirdly and lastly Meditate on thine own wants and vilenesse and acknowledge them to God so did Ezra Ezra 9.6 7. This Meditation will make thee fervent in Prayer and it is the Prayer of the humble faithfull fervent soul that shall prevail with God So much for the third thing propounded Fourthly Fourthly I shall shew you the duties or graces requisite in Prayer and there are divers requisites in Prayer First Knowledge and understanding I will pray with the spirit 1 Cor. 14.15 and I will pray with understanding also As if he should say I will understand and know what I pray for Secondly Faith It is the condition upon which the promise of answer of Prayers is made Let him ask in Faith nothing wavering c. Jam. 1.6 7. Let not that man think he shall receive any thing of the Lord that asks doubtingly Thirdly Humility It is the humble soul that shall prevail with God in Prayer Psal 10.17 Lord thou hast heard the desire of the humble He giveth grace to the humble Jam. 4.6 4. Fourthly Purity of heart Let us draw neer with a true heart Heb. 10.22 in full assurance of Faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience He that draws nigh to God with an evil heart or defiled conscience shall never speed in his Prayers Psal 66.18 If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me If thy heart incline to sinne Gods ear will not incline to thy Prayer Fiftly Love to our brethren is an other duty required in Prayer If thou prayest for pardon of sin and hast not so much love to thy brother as to forgive him an injury done to thee God will not hear thy prayers nor pardon thy sinnes for the promise of pardon is upon that condition Mat. 6.14 15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if you forgive not men their trespasses neither will you Father forgive you your trepasses Sixthly Zeal and Fervency is required in Prayer The colder the sutour the greater the sinner The effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much Jam. 5.16 Prayer is not effectuall unlesse it be fervent though it proceed from a righteous man Seventhly Unwearied constancy we must not give over praying because we have not present answers For this purpose our Saviour Christ mentions the Parable of the unjust Judge and the Widow Luke 18.1 to 9. That men ought alwayes to pray and not to faint And the woman of Canaan teacheth us this lesson of Constancy She would not give over praying though she had many repulses Mat. 15.22 to 29. Gen. 32.26 till she had that she prayed for And Jacob he would not let God goe till he had a blessing All which examples shew we must use unwearied constancy in prayer Eighthly We must pray in the holy Ghost so we are commanded Praying in the holy Ghost Jude 20. that is by the help of the holy Ghost This help is promised in Prayer Rom. 8.26 Likewise also the spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what to pray for as we ought but the spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered Without this help our Prayers will not be prevalent Those are the best Prayers that have most of the spirit of Gods help in them Ninethly Pray in the name and mediation of Jesu Christ saith Christ 1 John 14.13 14. John 16.23 Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name that will I do Whatsoever ye shal ask the Father in my Name he wil give it you To ask in the name of Christ is to ask relying upon the Promises Merit and Mediation of Christ or to desire to be heard for the merit and mediation of Christs sake Tenthly Pray for things agreeble to Gods will saith the Apostle 1 John 5.14 This is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us We can have no confidence of being heard in that which we doe not know whether or no it be according to Gods will Christ did justly deny the request of her that askt she knew not what Mat. 20.21 22. Eleventhly Use a due order in Prayer Seek Heavenly things first and most seek earthly things in the second place Saith Christ Mat. 6.33 Seek first the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse So we are taught in the Lords Prayer to seek first the things that concerne Heaven and Happiness before we seek Earthly blessings We must seek Heavenly things absolutely but Earthly things conditionally because Heavenly things are absolutely necessary for us as Faith Repentance Sanctification c. these things we know are agreeable to the will of God and therefore we are to pray for those things absolutely and not with a condition if it be thy will But now for Temporall things they are not absolutely necessary for us as health or freedome from the malice of unreasonable men or deliverance out of this or that trouble or to prosper or increase in their estate in the world or the like For these things we must pray with condition if it be the will of God Because God giveth or denieth these things to his children according as he sees best or most fit for each of their
covered dishonoureth his head I read the Turkes neither kneel nor uncover the Head in prayer esteeming it unmanly But Christians in all places and in all Ages have used both these gestures in Prayer And for men to be uncovered in Prayer I conceive this reason holds good because it is usual amongst Christians when Inferiours are speaking to Superiours to have their heads uncovered to manifest their subjection and it is a shame and a dishonour to a man to doe otherwise So when poor weak frail mortal man is by Prayer speaking to the great God of Heaven and Earth it is requisite he should manifest his reverence and subjection unto God by being bare-headed otherwise as the Apostle saith he dishonoureth his Head But may some Object Object Will you tie us to these gestures seeing we finde that Gods people stood and prayed Neh. 9.2 And the Publican and Pharisee stood and prayed and it is said Luke 18 11 13. Heb. 11.21 Iacob leaned upon his staffe and worshiped To which I answer I doe not tie you at all times to the Gestures before mentioned No For first outward gestures may be omitted when they shall hinder us in the service of God As for example If the Minister should kneel the people could not so well hear him and the seats of some in the Church are so placed that if they should kneel they should not hear the Minister In this case standing is better then kneeling because God accepts not of that gesture that hinders us in his service And it is like in this case Neh. 9.2 3 4. the Levites did stand and pray and the people also stood and prayed And for the Publican and Pharisee their prayers were but short Ejaculations not the solemne setting themselves to the dutie of Prayer therefore their example in standing can be no rule for our practice in the set performance of the duty Secondly outward gestures may be omitted when we cannot use them without evident danger of health or without such pain to the body as trouble and distract the mind in Gods service Some cannot kneel in prayer through bodily weaknesse and infirmities in this case God perfers mercy before sacrifice Mat. 12.7 And in this respect old Iacob rose upon his bed Heb. 11.21 leaned upon his staffe and worshipped And so if a man through age or weaknesse cannot be bare-headed he may have some covering Onely take this rule in these cases if a man cannot kneel or be bare-headed in Prayer yet must he use some other bodily gesture to shew as much bodily reverence as he can For so did Iacob who being aged and ready to give up the Ghost yet would he not lie along on his bed and pray but he rose up and leaned on his staffe he shewed as much reverence as he could he was not able to kneel or sit upright therefore he leaned and this gesture is given as an effect of his Faith By Faith he did thus to teach us that those that have true Faith in God will shew as much bodily reverence to him in prayer as they can If yet it be objected Object Why may not a man sit or lie along or be covered and pray I Answer Answ If they can use the other Gestures which are most sutable to the duty and yet doe not they sinne For if sitting or lying be as fit gestures in Prayer as kneeling what needed David to have rose at midnight to performe the duty as we finde he did resolve upon Psal 119.62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to thee Psal 119.62 When others were sleeping he was praying and that he might apply himself to such a posture as was most sutable to the duty he rose at midnight to performe it To teach us that a lazie posture in the duty of Prayer is not to be used As a full answer to all cavils take these two Conclusions First those gestures that bring a deadnesse and dulnesse and shew no reverence to God in the duty of Prayer ought not to be used But sitting lying and for men to be covered in Prayer when there is no infirmity or necessity constrains them to it brings deadnesse and discovers no reverence to God in the duty therefore they are not to be used in it Secondly those Gestures in publick that are of bad example to others are not to be used But sitting lying along or being covered are of bad example to others therefore they are not to be used in Prayer Now although it be my purpose to make a general application of all in the close yet observing that many in the Congregation are defective in the gestures of Prayer give me leave to speak a few words by way of Use to this before I passe to the next thing propounded And 1. For Reprehension 2. For Exhortation First by way of Reprehension 1. Use Reprehension is kneeling lifting up the hands and eyes and being bare-headed commanded and commended in Scripture as gestures requisite in Prayer Tell me then doe not those deserve to be reproved that neglect these Gestures or use the contrary That instead of using these gestures they sit or lie along and are with their Hats half off and half on are not these lazie and irreverent postures more fit for those that give themselves to sleeping then those that set themselves to Prayer If any of your Children should greatly offend you and then come and sit down before you or lie along or be with their hats half off and half on and ask you forgivenesse would you not be displeased with them and condemne their want of reverence Beloved we ought to come to God as a Father but if we come to him with irreverent postures may he not say unto us Mal. 1.6 If I be a Father where is mine honour More reverence becometh children to their Father Can your Consciences serve you to use lesse reverence to God then you would use to man think of it Secondly for Exhortation 2 Use Exhortation I beseech you be exhorted to use more reverence in Prayer God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the Saints Psal 89.7 and to be had in reverence of all that are about him If thou hast grace it will teach thee to serve God reverently Therefore Heb. 12.28 Let us have grace whereby we may serve God with reverence and godly fear God accepts not of that service that is not reverently performed He therefore that will serve God acceptably must serve him reverently That man that does not behave himself reverently in respect of the outward man in Prayer he can have no reverent nor high esteeme of God in his heart for where that is it will cause an humble and reverent deportment of the body Wherefore I Exhort and beseech you for time to come use not such irreverent postures in Prayer as if you scorned the Ordinance but let the outward postures
you what are the special times for Prayer First of the first Continually or without ceasing That is 1. When a man uses a constant course of Praying upon all opportunities in all his necessities And thus did the Apostle Saint Paul pray alwayes for the Collossians Col. 1.3 that is upon all occasions Secondly continually That is constantly without fainting or wearinesse Luk 18.1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end that men ought always to pray and not to faint And in this sense the Apostle prayed for the Thessalonians Night and day exceeddingly 1 Thes 3.10 Thirdly and lastly Lastly continually That is every day once or twice though not every hour of the day And thus the Offerings for the morning and evening Sacrifice Num. 28.4 6. are said to be continuall Offerings As David said to Mephibosheth Thou shalt eat bread at my table continually 2 Sam. 9.7 that is every day And in this sense it is said Job offered burnt offerings continually And Cornelius Job 1.5 He prayed to God alwaies And the Apostles resolved to give themselves continually to Prayer Acts 10.2 and the Ministry of the Word Acts 6.4 2 Thes 1.11 And saith the Apostle We pray alwayes for you Thus you see what is meant by always or continually it is daily all their life long I come now in the second place Secondly to shew you the special times for Prayer And although the heart ought to be continually carried out after God in Prayer Yet are there special times of Prayer As publick on the Lords Dayes on Fast dayes or Thansgiving dayes And also upon private occasions as in time of affliction Jam. 5.13 Is any afflicted let him pray But yet more particularly Christians ought to have set-times for Prayer every day And thus Daniel Dan. 6.10 He prayed three times a day And so did David Evening morning and at noon Psal 55.17 And you shall find he was yet more frequent in the work for he saith Psal 119.164 Seaven times a day doe I praise thee because of thy righteous judgements And of Anna it is said that she served God with Fasting and Prayer night and day Luk. 2.37 But I conceive that these did thus upon extraordinary occasions and therefore can be no standing rules for our practice But you will say unto me then Quest What are the set-times for every Christians Prayers I Answer they are to pray every day Answ and at least twice in the day Morning and Evening First every day This is implyed in the fourth Petition Mat 6.11 Give us this day our dayly bread And so we must pray every day Give us this day And this is also figured out unto us Exod. 29.39 42. by the every dayes burnt offering And this David exhorts unto and himself resolves upon Psal 96.2 Sing unto the Lord blesse his name shew forth his salvation from day to day That is every day And so he resolves saying Psal 145.2 Every day will I blesse thee and I will praise thy name for ever and ever Psal 146.2 While I live I will praise the Lord that is every day of my life Thus you see we are to pray every day But secondly The fittest time in the day for Prayer is the Morning and Evening In the morning to praise God for the rest of the night past and to seek his blessing and protection the day following And in the evening to praise him for the blessings received the day past and to seek his blessing and protection the night approaching This was also figured out unto us Exod. 29.38 39. by the offering of the two Lambs every day one in the morning and another in the evening And this the Apostle hints us to when he saith Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually That is as the Sacrifices of the Old Law were offered to God continually every morning and every night Psal 92.1 2. And saith David It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord c. to shew forth thy loving kindnesse in the morning and thy faithfulnesse every night That is it is good night by night and morning by morning every morning and every night to pray and praise God And great reason their is why we should be thus constant in Prayer every morning and every night Reas 1 First Because we stand in continuall need of blessings both spiritual and temporal it is therefore needful that we begge them daily every morning and every evening Reas 2 Secondly we cannot thrive nor prosper in any of our daily callings or imployments without Gods blessing Psal 127.1 2. Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it except the Lord watch the City the watchman waketh but in vain It is in vain for you to rise up early to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrow c. A man may rise early and sit up late but he can never thrive without Gods blessing and he cannot expect Gods blessing without Prayer And therefore every day in all our labours we ought to pray with David Establish the work of our hands upon us Psal 90.17 yea the work of our hands establish thou it Reas 3 Thirdly We are subject every day to decay in grace and there is no means to obtain grace or preserve grace or increase in grace like this of Prayer And therefore the Apostle did not cease to pray for the Colossians Col. 1.9 10 11. that they might be filled with all grace Prayer is as the food whereby graces are preserved revived and increased As therefore we take daily food to preserve revive and strengthen the body so we must daily use Prayer this spiritual food that our souls may be preserved and nourished up unto Eternal life therefore pray every day Reas 4 Fourthly It is needful we pray every day continually because we have the Devil every day continually as our adversary like a roaring Lyon seeking to devour us 1 Pet. 5.8 And there is no weapon like that of faithful Prayer to withstand him And hence it is that our Saviour Christ bid his Disciples watch and pray Mat. 26.41 that they enter not into temption And in the Lords Prayer we are to pray every day Lead us not or suffer us not to be led into temptation It is a great advantage given to Satan to neglect the duty of Prayer therefore pray every day Reas 5 Fifthly We are prone daily and as it were every moment to sinne against God And there is no means like that of Prayer to prevent it Hence it is that David prays Psal 19.13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sinnes let not them have dominion over me Order my steps in thy word Psal 119.133 and let not any iniquity have the dominion over me While we live in this world we cannot
be free from sinne but Prayer is a special means to free us from the dominion of sinne While we are in the body sinne will be there yet shall it not raign in our mortal bodies so as we shall obey it in the lusts thereof Rom. 6.12 if we daily seek God for pardon of it and strength against it and that leads me to Reas 6 The sixth and last Reason why we are to pray every day It is because we have need continually to begge pardon of sin We have not more need of daily bread to preserve the body from perishing than of daily pardon of sinne that the Soul may not perish And therefore it followes in the Lords Prayer after Mat. 6.11 12. Give us this day our daily bread Forgive us our trespasses It is requisite we should begge pardon in the morning for the sinnes of the night past and we should begge pardon at night for the sinnes of the day past And so continue seeking of God every day that our sinnes may be pardoned that our Souls may be saved And so much for this seventh thing propounded the times of Prayer I come now to the eighth and last thing propounded Lastly and that is to answer divers Objections about Prayer Ob ∣ jection 1 First some may object It is to no purpose to pray 1. Mat. 6.8 Because God knoweth our wants 2. Ephes 1.11 He hath Decreed what shall befal every man 3. Phil. 4.6 He is ready to give us what is fit for us Answ 1 I Answer first although God knoweth our wants yet it is his will we should make them known to him by Prayer Saith the Apostle Let your requests be made known unto God Christ knew that blinde Bartimeus had need of his sight and yet he would have him to pray for it before he would give him it Mark 10.51 52. Jesus answered and said unto him What wilt thou that I should doe unto thee the blinde man said unto him Lord that I might receive my sight and immediately he received his fight Secondly As God determins what he will doe he hath determined also that Prayer shall be the means whereby we shall obtain what he hath determined to give us God promises to give a new heart and a new spirit with many other blessings Ezekiel 36. and yet in the 37 Verse he saith For all this I will be inquired by the house of Israel Ezek. 36.37 God promises the restauration of Israel Jeremiah 31. yet he saith in the nineth Verse Jer. 31.9 They shall come with weeping and with supplications will I lead them They shall be led out of their captivity but it shall be as an answer of Prayers Thirdly this praying doth not at all derogate from Gods goodnesse and readinesse to give but it rather demonstrateth his goodnesse 1. In that he saith but ask and have Mat. 7.7 2. In that he alone stirs us up to pray to the end he may doe us good Psal 10.17 Thou preparest their heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear 3. God will have us pray before he gives blessings because he delighteth in the work of his own Spirit in us Cant. 2.14 Le me hear thy voice for it is sweet saith Christ to his Church 4. And lastly Lastly God knoweth that his blessings will be then most sweet and comfortable to us when we have obtained them by Prayer Saith Hannah 1 Sam. 1.27 For this Child I prayed and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him When mercy comes as an answer of Prayer this engages the Soul to love God and quicken up the heart yet more and more to seek him so it was with David Psal 116.1 2. I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplication Because he hath enclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live You see because God heard his prayer he resolves to go on in this course of praying as long as he lived And thus you see notwithstanding the Objection it is to good purpose we should pray Again it may be Objected 2. Objection It is needlesse to pray because the good successe of things depends upon second causes and natural means God useth to work by as Physick Bread and the like I answer Answ this is a most prophane and heathenish Objection For although God works by means yet is it not in the means without Gods blessing to do us good First It is a sinne to use the means without seeking of God as Asa 2 Chron. 16.12 In his disease he sought not the Lord but to the Physitian Secondly It is a sinne also and tempting of God to pray and yet neglect the means You shall finde that God blameth Moses for resting upon Prayer with the neglect of the meanes And the Lord said unto Moses Exod. 14.15 wherefore cryest thou unto me speak unto the Children of Israel that they goe forward Why dost thou pray and stand still and dost not use the means March on doe not only pray but use the means He that prays and uses not the means tempts God and saith Christ Mat. 4.7 Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God But when we pray to him and trust in him in the use of means then and not till then may we expect Gods blessing Arise therefore 1 Chron. 22.16 and be doing and the Lord be with thee For all our labours are to no purpose without Gods blessing 1 Chron. 3.7 and our ordinary food cannot nourish us without Gods blessing Mat. 4.4 Therefore I conclude although God work by secondary causes yet those doe it not without his blessing And we cannot expect Gods blessing without Prayer It is therefore needful in the use of all means to pray to God for a blessing Thirdly It may be Objected 3. Objection That they that never pray doe as well as they that pray most What neede therefore is there of this constant praying I Answer Answ it is most false to say those that pray not doe as well as those that pray most For First The blessings that those that never pray receive they are but temporal Mat. 5.45 He maketh his sunne to shine on the evil and on the good and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust But Gods children that pray unto him are filled with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things Ephes 1.3 Secondly Those that pray not can have no assurance of the enjoying the outward comforts they have Job 20.15 to ver 19. God hath threatned to blast upon them But those that pray have a promise to build upon yea many promises especially this Psal 34.10 They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing 3. And lastly They that pray not have no right to any outward thing they do enjoy neither can they have any sound comfort in it
privy pride that keep men from the duty of Prayer As a begger he is in want and would fain have relief but pride keeps him from begging Fourthly and lastly Lastly Know it is not so much the greatnesse of thy sinnes as the want of Faith that keep thee off from seeking Gods mercy And this sinne of unbelief is a greater sin then all thy other sinnes thou art guilty of because it makes thee to lie under the guilt and condemnation of all thy other sinnes Joh. 16.9 chap. 3. 36. Heb. 3.12 It is the root of all other sinnes It is such a sinne as rejects the remedy of Christs blood by which they should obtain pardon of sinne Therefore have Faith in God and let not the greatnesse of your sinnes hinder you from the performance of your Duty Sixthly 6. Objection Answ I have prayed but I can find no answer In answer to this I shall shew you how many ways God answers his peoples Prayers that so you be not mistaken in thinking God doth not answer your Prayers when they are answered and you take no notice of it First God answers prayers when he grants the thing that is begged in Prayer And thus God answered Hannah when she prayed for a child 1 Sam. 1.27 And thus God answered Solomon when he prayed for wisdome 1 King 3.9 12. It may be God hath not thus heard thy prayer Secondly God answers prayers when what is asked is denyed and a better thing is granted So Abraham begged Ishmael Gen. 17.19 20. and he gave him Isaack So the Disciples asked when the kingdome should be restored to Israel Christ deny them that Acts 1.6 7 8. and gives them power to be witnesses to him So the Cripple he asked an Almes Acts 3.3 6. and he had his limbs restored to him So God many times denies the thing is asked but gives a better thing Thirdly God answers prayers when nothing at all is granted and yet God strengthens the Soul with his grace to bear the want of it Such an answer had David Psa 138.3 In the day when I cryed thou answeredst me with strength in my soul And thus Christ was heard in his sufferings Heb. 5.9 when he prayed he was supported And thus the Apostle was answered when he prayed to be delivered from Satans buffetings 2 Cor. 12.8 9. The grace of God was sufficient for him If God answer thee thus say not thou hast lost thy labour in praying for this is a gracious answer of Prayer Fourthly God answer prayers although thy particular request be not granted yet if thou feelest thy heart after prayer cheered and thy inward comfort and assurance of Gods favour increased thereby This is such an answer as is best of all when spiritual joy is increased by prayer Joh. 16.24 Ask saith Christ that your joy may be full Although Davids prayer was not answered for the good of his enemies Psal 35.13 yet his prayer returned into his own bosom he had the inward comfort of it And this is the meaning of that promise to prayer Phil. 4.6 7 Let your requests be made known unto God and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus Your hearts and mindes shall be kept stayed upon Christ And this is a sweet answer of Prayers Fifthly and lastly Lastly God answer prayers when he does not grant the things we have prayed for or those inward comforts of his spirit yet he make us able to continue praying this strength is a work and fruit of Gods Spirit Rom. 8.26 27. The spirit helpeth our infirmities c. So long as thou canst pray with such strivings it is impossible God should neglect thee Yet further know That God sometimes grants our prayers as a Judgement and sometimes he denies them as a Mercy First God sometimes answers prayers as a Judgement and so he gave the Israelites their own desires Psa 78.29 30 31. and withall his wrath seazed on them to their destruction Secondly God sometimes denies to answer prayers as a Mercy Job 6.8 9. And so he denied Jobs request when he desired God would destroy him and cut him off Jona 4.8 And so Jonah he wished he might die God denies his request as a Mercy The seventh and last Objection is this 7. Objection I can find no good by praying but I find I am rarher the worse I Answer Answ Thus we find in Scripture Gods servants complaining Job 30.20 21. saith Iob I cryed unto thee and thou regardest me not thou art become cruel to me And David saith Psal 69.3 I am weary of my crying my throat is dryed mine eyes fail while I wait for my God Psal 80.4 How long wilt thou be angry with the prayers of thy peoples And Habakkuk he cryed out Hab. 1.2 O Lord how long shall I cry and thou wilt not hears But for further answer know that God may doe thus and it may be out of love to thee As First It may be God seeth it better for thee to want that thou prayest for then to have it the promise is Psa 30.10 Mat. 7.11 They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing If thou shouldest have it it may be God seeth it not good for thee Secondly It may be God seeth it not good for thee to have it yet Eccles 3.11 every thing is beautiful in his time Luke 1.7 13. or season Zachary prayed for a child but God granted not his request till he was old that so God might have the more glory by it John 11.3 6 15 40 ver So Christ delayed to answer Mary and Martha's request concerning their brother Lazarus that so God might have the more glory in the close Isa 30.18 The Lord waits that he may be gracious Gods delayes are no denials his time is the best time 3. And lastly It may be God heareth thee but thou perceivest it not Dan. 10.12 So it was with Daniel the first day he prayed his prayer was answered but he did not know it till afterwards And the causes why men perceive not Gods answer of prayers may be these First It may be they are heedlesse of Gods answers Saith David I will hear what the Lord will speak Psal 85.8 I will attentively mark what God will say and for want of this God hears many times and they observe it not Secondly sometimes God answer prayers but anguish and trouble of mind is the cause why men take no notice of it So it was with Iob If I had called Job 9.16 17. and he had answered me yet would I not believe that he had harkned to my voice For he breaketh me with a tempest c. As the people of Israel Exod. 6.5 They hearkned not to Moses for anguish of spirit So many times God answers his