the same lesson doth our Sauiour continually teach vs specially when he telleth vs Mark 13. that the end of the world is at hand saying Take heed watch and pray for ye knowe not when the time is And againe elsewhere he saith Watch and pray continually Luk. 21. â— that yee may bee counted worthie to escape all these things and that yee may stand before the Sonne of man Prayer is a chiefe part of that Panoplia or complet harneis which the Apostle Saint Paul in the sixt to the Ephesians Ephe. 6. â— doth charge euery Christian Souldier dayly to put on or being put once on neuer to put it off any more the reason is because so long as we liue in the fielde of this world we must a waies looke our enemie in the face and neuer turne the backe Therefore also it is that the Apostle hath appointed vs no harneis for our hinder parts Againe we must neuer vnarme our selues because there is neuer no truce to be taken with our aduersarie who continually seeketh to kill vs as well or rather by night then by dayâ— aswell in Winter as in Summer Againâ—â— because we wrestle not onely with fleâ—â— and bloud which are our dayly and domesticall enemies and must alwaies bee kept vnder as bond-slaues which naturally seeke to conspire against vs But also as the Apostle saith Against principallities against powers and against the worldly gouernours the prince of the darkenesse of this worlde and against spirituall wickednesses which are in the high places For this cause wee must take vnto our selues the whole armour of God that wee may bee able to resist in the euill day That is euery day when we are tempted and hauing many fightes wee must still stand vpon our stations or guard With our loynes girded about with truth and hauing on the brestplate of righteousnesse And our feete shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace Aboue all wee must take the shielde of faith wherewith wee may quench all the fierie dartes of the Diuell We must also take the helmet of saluation and the sworde of the Spirit which is the word of God And yet all this is too little therefore the Apostle addeth And pray alwayes with all manner Prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watch thereunto with all perseueranee So that wee are taught how wee must bee harnessed from toppe to toe as they say as many as are Christes souldiers they must not come naked vnto this fight neither must they onely put on their armor or harnes but they must also take weapons in their hands the sword of the spirit to strike at the diuel if he come neare and the pike of prayer to keepe him off that he doe not assault them And these weapons if the skill of them bee well known are both offensiue and defensiue they will as well sticke and wounde the aduersary as defend vs from the force of his blowes when hee striketh towardes vs yea belieue it deare christian though the Diuel play the Lion when hee is not resisted yet if thou come towardes him as did Dauid towardes Goliah with these weapons in thine hand hee wil soone flee from thee as S. Iames saith and be afraid of thee and euen quake for feare Iam 4.7 as doth the Lion at the crowing 〈◊〉 a cocke for as the roaring of a Lion â—righteth the beastes of the forrest so doth the prayers of the faithful profligat or driue to flight the diuels of hel faithfull prayer therefore is to be considered chiefly in these two respects the one is the great neede and necessitie of it that we may not bee without it the other is the fruite profite that it bringeth with it if it bee dayly and continually vsed the necessity wherof we see already in that it is one of out chiefest weapons wherewith wee must euermore be fighting if happely at any time the sword of the spirit which is the word of God bee forgotten behinde or layed vp in our closet as the sword of Dauid was behind the Ephod and the dore of our remembrance locked and the key lost for a time yet praier must alwayes be present and neuer be forgotten behind therefore it is that wee are so oftentimes exhorted in the scriptures to pray continually and alwayes giue thankes for benefites receiued not that we should doe nothing els but pray but to teach vs that whatsoeuer we doe else either at home or abroad wee must if we please vse prayer with it either publikely or priuately either in word or in thought yea the very secret groninges of the godly at al times are acceptable vnto God and to teach vs also that euery good thing wee take in hand shall prosper the better for prayer yea thinges Adiaphora thinges indifferent yea euen our sportes and recreation such as the wicked vse prophanely may by the godly be vsed holily by the benefit of praier 1. Tim 4.5 All things saith the Apostle are sanctified by the word of God and prayer that is as I take it all indifferent thinges such as in themselues are neither good nor euill are sanctified to the vse of godly men for thinges that are euer good are euer sanctified and thinges that are meerely euill can neuer bee made good only the euilnes that is in theÌ„ may be auoided and taken away and so the thing that was euil before may in a sort bee changed into goodnes all this is done by the word of God and praier through the mightie working of the holy sanctifying spirit of God Praier therefore I say must be present with the children of God at all times the praises of God must be in their mouthes continually for as a souldier without weapon so is a christian without praier and as water is the life of a fish so is praier the life of the fouâ—e As Sampson was soone ouercome by the Philistines when hee once cut off his haire wherin his strength was so these diuelish Philistines will soon come vpon vs if once they see vs to neglect or cast away praier wherein our spirituall strength consisteth For this cause the necessitie of praier is not onelie commended vnto vs in scripture by sundrie precepts 〈◊〉 Psal 50.15 Mat. 11.28 as Call vpon me in the day of trouble I wil hear thee saith God thou shalt prayse me And again come vnto me al that trauel and are heauy loden with the burthen of sin I will ease ye Mat. 7.7 I will refresh yeâ— And seeke aske knocke which teacheth vs that wee must continue in praier and manie such like precepts but also it is most of all commended vnto vs by example which is a most forcible kind of teaching what meaneth that continual course of praier and the spending of whole nightes in praier by our sauiour but to commend vnto vs the necessitie of praier No sooner did that good disciple who soeuer he was desire
exhorting vs vnto sobrietie watchfulnesse and prayer As if he should say The end of all things is at hand and the Iudge is at the doore ready to take vengeance of all vngodlinesse and intemperancie By yee therefore sober The day of his comming is altogether vncertain Be ye therfore vigilant watchful If this be to hard for fraile flesh to performe fly vnto Prayer which maketh the hardest things easie to be done Be yee sober 1. Pet. 4 7. and watch vnto Prayer Of either of these three briefely Sobrietie Watchfulnesse and Prayer Of Sobrietie or Temperancie we haue heretofore spoken sufficiently I trust to instruct them that are godly and in loue with that vertue it is the fourth linke in Saint Peters Chaine In this place therefore by way of digression I will indeuor to speake briefely of Intemperancy the very bane cut-throate of all Christianitie and Pietie and a most cruell enimie vnto all good gouernement and policie There is a saying Nemo laeditur nisi a se ipso euery man is the worker of his owne woe I pray God the generall Intemperancie of this land doe not viper-like eate out the bowels thereof The stinging of a Viper they say at the first doth yeelde a certaine tickling delight to all the outward sences but assoone as the infected bloud comes to the hart presently the body is in daunger of death what pleasing delight is dayly taken in Intemperancie by all the sences I meane by all sorts and sexts of people in this land as in other places of the worlds it may better be felt then seene when Paule had but one viper on his hand Acts. 28 4â— all the standers by looked that hee should haue fallen downe dead presently But this countrey being stung with the venome of vipers I meane all kinde of filthy vices not in the band onely but in euery part of the body yet no man feareth the ruine or fall thereof Most true it is that we which liâ—e in the latter end of this last age of the world liue in the time and vnder the climate of all intemperancy I hope the end is the neerer at hand to redresse all that is amisse my minde is not and if my minde would serue time would not suffer me particularly to point out all the sinnes of intemperancy that abonnd at this day euery where among vs. There are foure cardinall sinnes vpon the which also the rest doe hang Pride Couetousnesse Whooredome Drunkennesse which for their swiftnes in running ouer the world may well be compared to the foure wheeles of the diuels chariot in the which chariot he daily carrieth cart-loads of soules into hell These sinnes together with the other sinnes of Sodome tumble in one on anothers backe like the waues of the Sea there is neither meane nor measure kept in any of them Onely least I should slaunder any with the truth in drinking they say they haue Law as strong as the Lawe of the Medes and Persians that euery one must drinke by measure but without any meane they must drinke off al their measure and leaue none yea I heare and I haue onely heard of it that our new dubd ale knights whereof we haue great store in the countrey inough to ransack any city in Spain if they were vnarmed of their Ale well marshalled doe in their dayly drinkings to their measure of drinke adde a certain set number of words which may bee termed the tossepots watch-word and therin not onely take their delight but many of them spend their whole thrift at the Ale-house leauing their wiues familise alone vncarde for so they may sit singing swinging themselues in good Ale from morning to night it is all that they care for and all the good or rather euil they desire to do except it be also to raile at those that be good and that are wont to reprooue them for this their â—eastlinesse This measurable drinking or rather vnmeasurable and vnreasonable quaffing carrowsing whereof I haue also spoken in the first Chapter will nay already doth begin to breed a great scarcity of Corne and grayne in our Countrey It cannot be denied but that there are already many good lawes in force to punish those dayly drunkards but neuer worse executed then at this day and some are of good hope that there shall be straiter and more seuere Lawes prouided against drunkennesse For I verily thinke and I wish experience prooue it not to bee true that drunkennesse is more hurtfull and dangerous to this Common-wealth wherein wee liue then common theft and therefore I pray God to put it into the harts of all good Common weales men specially those that are in high places and authoritie to vse all good meanes for the redressing thereof and before better or straiter Lawes be enacted to giue straiter charge to all other inferiour officers to execute with all seueritie as in a matter of great necessity appertaineth the lawes of our land already prouided which hitherto of a long time haue bin very much neglected at least in some quarters of this Countrey which will surely grow to a greater disease then many thinke off if it bee not the sooner cured which thing hath caused me often to speake and now to write more against this vice of drunkennesse both here and in the first Chapter then many happely will thinke it fit and conuenient to be spoken of in so smal a treatise howbeit if my words preuaile any thing to the killing of this stinging viper drunkennesse I will confesse I haue spoken inough if nothing that I haue written too much except for the discharge of mine owne conscience And as for the three other capitall vices of intemperancie Pride Couetousnesse and Whooredome I thinke they may be compared to the heads of Hydra for euery head that is cut off by the sword of the Preachers for other punishment there is little or none there spring vp an hundred in the place in such sort that Preachers are almost weried any longer to florish their swords of Gods word to cut downetheir sinnes except it would please the godly Magistrate to draw out of their sheathes or scabbards their sharpest swords of Iustice which in particular Sheathes I feare are waxen rustie for want of vse and so to ioyne their armies and forces together to kill or at least to keepe downe those monstrous Hydras which otherwise are like to spoyle deuoure this little land Let it therfore be looked vnto betimes for feare we repent too late for there is no daunger compared to that daunger which is not feared Citties and Countreyes Townes and Villages doe euery where stinke with these filthy and beastly sinnes Pride Couetousnesse Whooredome Drunkennesse Pride must needs haue Couetousnes as a mistresse to maintaine her and Drunkennesse must haue Whoredome and Lechery for a handmaid to attend on her Sine Cerere Baccho friget Venus Wine and women make many men runnagates Pride and Riot
be whome when his Maister commeth shall find waking that is well occupied but if any of these shall say in a carelesse and contemptuous securitie surely my Maister will defer his comming leauing his owne place or dutie shall begin to smite his fellow seruants and to cate and drinke with the drunken his Maister shal come in a time when hee is not aware shall hew him in peeces and giue him his portion with hypocrites there shal be weeping and gnashing of teeth Here hence then we are first taught that euery one in this world aswel the highest as the lowest is but an officer vnto the king of heauen and shall one day giue an account of his office Secondly we are here taught that euery officer hath this peculiarly appropriate vnto him besides his office or worke namely to watch for the comming of his Lord and therefore it is that sometime we are compared vnto porters who must watch at the gates of our coÌ„sciences that the diuell step not in to steale away our soules sometimes vnto souldiers who watch in the field waiting for the coÌ„ming of the enemie sometimes vnto guests as the olde maner was in the east countrey to watch for the comming of the Bridegroome And that all are commaunded to watch least any should think theÌ„selves excepted it is proued by that conclusion of our Sauior in Marke Mark 13.37 And those things that I say vnto you saith Christ I say vnto al meÌ„ watch which watchfulnes is not opposed against naturall sleepe for it is a metaphoricall speech but against that carelesse securitie that vsually doth fall vpon all men in their seuerall callings Thirdly we are hereby plainly taught that there should bee none in this world without one office or other if they will account themselues seruants to this great king for if they haue not some office of their own they must either be idle which is accompanied with many mischiefs or they must be il occupied which is worse or they must be medling with other meÌ„s offices and dutyes which is worst of all Contrariwise here are hardly taxed all those that are called vnto any office and waite not on their office whether in the magistracy or in the ministry nay that indeuor not to do all the good they can in their offices and places not hiding but making some gaine of each talent committed vnto them Secondly all those wheresoeuer they are placed either in church or common weale are reproued what calling soeuer they are of that sleep in security watch not for the comming of their Maister Thirdly those multitudes of people that liue idle as drones haue no calling but flying froÌ„ place to place like flies that wil haue a taste of euery thing or il occupied like filthy duckes that euer liue in the puddle of sinne Fourthly all those are not a little to be blamed neither shall in the world to come escape vnpunished who when they shal heare or do any goodnes are alwaies a sleepe or in a slumber but to hurt or beguile their brethren are euer waking who are very ready to carrouse and play but haue no skill to watch and pray who can most willingly spend daies weekes to winne worldly wealth but thinke one houre in a week to long too much to be spared for the winning of their soules Last of all for a conclusion as euery one of vs are commanded to stand vpon our guard heedefully to watch the Castle of our bodies wherein the treasure of our soules are enclosed so there is not any one of vs but haue a secret watch within vs continually to waken vs and to giue vs warning which is the watchor Clock of our owne consciences spoken of in the Chapter before many are desirous to carry watches or clocks in their bosoms to giue them warning how time passeth away let vs therfore aboue althings haue regard vnto this watch which wee carry with vs wheresoeuer we goe which doth alwayes runne aswell by night as by day and giueth a checke euery minute and doth neuer stand still except it be to rustie and altogether choked with the filth of sinne This watch will both warne vs forewarne vs checke vs and cherish vs warne vs for any fault passed forwarne aduise vs to auoide dangers to come check vs and chide vs for falling into sinne comfort and cherish vs in doing any thing that is good These watches therefore are of more worth then worldlings can account of they are these goodly Geese which alwaies rest in the Capitol or market place of our minds who with their onely crying if it be well marked keepe the cittie of our soules from sacking to these if we hearken diligently we shal not lightly fall into any deadly sleepe of sin Acts. 20. â— as the young man Eutichus did though Paul continue his preaching vntill midnight but rather shall be ready at midnight while the godly slumber and the wicked sleepe 12 7 and when the crie is made come vnto the wedding to strike vs in the side as the Angel did Peter in the prison to wake vs warne vs with the wise Virgines to take our lamps prepared with the oyle of faith and flaming with the fire of loue in our hands and so to enter in with the Bridegroome into that great mariage of the Lambe before it be too late and the doores be shut at what time it shall be said to the foolish virgins that had no oyle in their lampes and vnto al the rest which would not be maried betimes by these clockes of their consoâ—â—ences but would spend all their time in the sleepe of sinne and securitie and had no care to watch for the comming of their Maister to all these I say when they shall stand without and knocke for mercy when it is the time of iustice the Iudge himselfe shal say vnto them depart hence I knowe ye not ye workers of iniquitie Wherefore let vs hearken betimes vnto this gracious watchword and forewarning of Saint Peter Be yee sober and watch But because hee had learned by his owne experience the weakenesse and frailenes of mans nature euen those that are best minded and that we as the Apostles in the Garden are neuer more heauy and sleepie then when daungers are neerest therefore vnto Christian watchfulnes he counselleth to adde faithfull prayer saying Be sober and watch vnto prayer the like counsell he giueth vs in another place when he warneth vs of the comming of our enemie saying Bee yee sober and watch for your aduersarie the Diuell as a roaring Lion seeketh whome he may deuoure whome resist saith he stedfastly in the faith the force of which faith must appeare in our prayers This Lesson also had Peter learned of our Sauiour Christ who tolde him and other the Apostles that though the Spiâ—â— were sometimes willing yet that the flesh is alwayes weake and therefore willeth vs to watch and pray And
our Sauiour to teach his disciples to pray as Iohn before had taught his but presentlie his godlie desire is gratiouslie granted Mat. 6.2 and a most perfect paterne and right forme of praier is prescribed by Christ himselfe whereby all the praiers of the Saints must euer be squared wherein the Lord did not onely teach vs to pray but prescribed a forme euermore to be vsed The Apostles succeeding him as al the Patriarkes and holy prophetes going before doe by their singular examples highly commend the sweete exercise of godly praier vnto all Gods children till the end of the world and therein is not onely to be considered the necessitie but also the efficacie fruit of praier which is the other point that I note Holy Enoch the scripture saieth Gen. 5.24 He walked with God that is was euer conuersant and as it were talking with God by faithfull praier for they that pray faithfully talke with God as they that reade the scriptures deuoutely God talketh with them Iam. 2 23 what shall we speake of Abraham the father of the faithfull who is called The friend of God God did so fauourably heare his praiers that he made vnto him so that he was coÌ„tent to feast with him at his instant intreaty Of Isaack praying Gen 24.60 as saieth the Text in the field when his wife Rebecca was sent by God vnto him Gen 28.20 what of Iacob whose praier procured him a prosperous iorney preserued him froÌ„ all dangers What shall wee speake of Moyses that man of God whose praiers preuailed mightily with the Lord Psa 106.33 otherwise the Lord would haue destroied the children of Israel at once 〈…〉 And of Ioshua at whose praier the Sunne stood still in Gibeon and the Moone in the valley Auieloth till the Israelites were reuenged of Gods enemies So true is that saying of Saint Iames The praier of a faithfull man auaileth much Iam. 5.16.17.18 if it be feruent And proposeth Elias for an example whose instant and faithfull praier did locke vnlocke the heaueÌ„s as it were wiâ—h a key that they drop ped no raine in three years and sixe monethes and again at his praier the heauens gaue raine aboundantly I should bee too tedious to recite all the examples 1. King 3.9 Let Salomon be remembred who praied for wisdome rather then for gold and God gaue him his desire aboue all that euer were before him Iudg. 16.30 Let not Sampson be forgotten though he once lost his strength as al Gods Saints doe one time or other more or lesse yet as soone as he had recouered a little strength againe in a time conuenient he fell vnto praier and presently pulled downe the house where Gods enemies were assembled Hee killed more Philistines now saieth the text with praier and little strength then hee did in all the time of his life before when happely praier was neglected and he too confident in worldly strength The story of Daniel wee know is famous who praied three times a day to his God that is the God of heauen at that time also when it was present death for him so to doe and see how wonderfully God deliuered him from all his enemies and from the iawes of the Lions Dauid a man chosen after Gods own hart and a king though troubled with wars and other most serious affaires yet forgot not to pray euening and morning at noone tide and the Lord heard his praier his praiers and his praises in the psalmes can neuer be praised nor perused sufficiently The Apostle in the Actes Act. 2.46 the Saintes of God assemble themselues together and continue with one accord in praier for praier whether it bee publike or priuate must be voyde of discord publike disseÌ„tion hinders very much the publike praiers in the church a thing greatly to be lamented in our times and priuate discordes let and hinder priuate persons at home in their houses from those sweet exercises of praier and praising of God with Psalmes and hymnes and spiritual songs in priuate families as true Christianity requireth And as Iames the Apostle exhorteth if we be in aduersitie or in any griefe or necessity then to vse that part of praier which is called petition if mercy and in prosperitie then to sing Psalmes which is the other part of praier and thanksgiuing though I know petitioÌ„ is also included in the psalmes and giuing of thankes not seldome vsed with out singing both in publike and in priuate neuerthelesse they must euer be free from discord and dissention Therefore S. Peter 1. pet 3.7 when hee disswadeth married couples to liue without discord he addeth this for a speciall reason that your praiers be not hindered for God to whome onely wee must present our praiers by the meanes of Christ not to Saintes or Angels is a God of peace therefore onely heareth the praiers of them that be in loue peace with God and man with God by faith and true repentance with men by a christian reconciliation and godly agreement Therfore Paul sayeth Men must pray euery where lifting vp pure hands without wrath or doubting 1 Ti. 2 8 Thus did the Apostles and saints of God in the primitiue church pray faithfully and zealously together in loue and concord and see the fruit and force of their praiers The holy Ghostfell vpon them and the places did shake oftentimes vnder them in token of ioy and to assure theÌ„ that their praiers were pleasing vnto God But stay let mee marke how I proceede on I had thought that I had eueÌ„ run my prefixed course might here haue cast ancher but looking better about I cannot see the shore nor the hauen wherein I would willingly harbour By that which hath beene spoken wee may a little perceiue the vse and necessity of praier and we shall bee the better perswaded thereof by daily trying and considering of our owne weakenes wants also the daily miseries calamities both publike priuate which hang ouer our heades and the mighty force and craftes of our aduersaries both spirituall and temporall against whome wee must continually fight by praiers according to the saying Arma ecclesiae sunt preces lacrimae The best armour and weapons of the faithfull are praiers made with teares which teares so shed are not lost for God will put them vp in his bottle By that I say which hath beene said before the necessity of praier may partly bee perceiued but as for the force and efficacy therof though in the forenamed exaÌ„ples some thing doe appeare and the sweetnes of comfort and contentation that it daily stireth vp in the harts of Gods children I perswade my selfe they may be far better perceiued then expressed for what is praier els to them that know how to pray effectually but euen a most familiar talke of man with God by the meanes of Christ What other thing is praier but an opening vnfoulding of
our minds vnto God to make our mones vnto him in all our miseries euen as do deare and obedient children vnto their most louing and most mercifull father to pray vnto him for whatsoeuer we want necessary for soule and body with full assurance to be heard if it be for his glory our good and to praise his Maiestie continually for all his benefites And if at any time our praiers seeme not to be heard at first as oftentimes it falleth out then wee are also assured that he doth either deny them for our good and will giue vs better thinges when it pleaseth him or else for a time delaieth and deferreth our petition to the ende hee may the better try our obedience proue our patience and confirme vs in perseuerance which three vertues being knit together make that cable of three twistes which being tied fast to the anker of faith can neuer bee broken God in hearing and graunting our praiers is like as S. Ierome compares him vnto a faithfull Phisitian that wil suffer his sicke patient to crie long enough if hee call for things that are hurtful for his health yet notwithstanding hath more care of his good and recouery then the patient hath of himselfe and therefore it is that these sweete sentences of S. Austen are to be regarded who saieth Deus saepe non ex◠audit ad voluntatem vt exaudiat ad salutem God oftentimes doth not heare vs as we desire but onely as in his wisedome hee knoweth best for our health and for our good And againe the same father saith Si non dat ad horam c. if God sometimes do seeme not to heare presently it is to exercise the petitioners not because hee dispiseth our praiers But what pen is able to expresse the profite and pleasure the sweet comforte and consolation in soule and mind that the children of God do feele in this holy exercise of praier if it bee made with knowledge and conscience with faith feeling without wrath or doubting free from hypocrisie and any popish conceit to bee heard for our much babling sake against which vices our Sauiour doth most sharply inueigh in the 6. of Mathew And the Apostle doth plainely reproue that lip-labour bibble babble such as is yet vsed in the Romish churches that is made in an vnknowne tongue and so without knowledge and vnderstanding and therefore without fruit and profite whereof I here giue warning least any infected with these follies of Popery shuld thinke themselues also commended that spend their whole time almost in praying vpon their beades and in mumbling of their Mattins and our Ladies Psalter as they cal it which hath neither any sweetnes nor any godly sauour in it but altogether offensiue vnto God and most dāgerous for the health of their soules but leauing them that also sin of ignorance to Gods mercy to be recalled and their leaders to that iudgement which is pronounced against them except they speedily repent Let vs returne to finish our discourse concerning the fruit and efficacy of praier as well publike as priuate and the rather I make mention of publique praier because it is neglected of a great many which otherwise thinke themselues good professors of Christiauity for I speake not here of open Recusantes that are worthily blamed and also punished for their indurate obstinacy but I speake onely of those that will not come to publike praiers except there bee preaching how necessary it is that there should be preaching in euery congregation what good man seeth not what good Christian desireth it not for it is the best externall meanes to teach vs how to pray and all other good duties whatsoeuer but where one wanteth must the other also bee neglected God forbid mee thinkes there is no reason to be yeelded for it except you will say it is reason that while a man is fighting with his enemie and his sword be broken off or stroken out of his hand he must therefore cast away the dagger too and so suffer himselfe to bee killed or stabbed presently Haue we not heard before that praier is that weapon that must euer bee present with vs both at home abroad both in priuate and in publike they therfore for that is the common excuse that will pray at home or in priuate whe◠they may and will not come vnto publike praiers are like vnto some dastard◠souldiers who while the whole Campe is skirmishing flourish their swords out a part by themselues and yet thinke they haue plaied the men sufficiently I speake not against priuate praier but rather perswade all men vnto it but I speak onely against those that will not come at publike praiers where many souldiers to gether may doe better seruice then a few alone And also by the way those may be noted that all the times of publike praier wil be busied in their priuate praier as though they were souldiers of an other campe and sometimes reading or pooring in a booke and that is vsed of many in time of preaching also as thogh publike praier and preaching were not to be regarded these abuses therefore and many other which I cannot stand to rehearse being auoided and eschewed the force and fruit of faithfull and zealous praier as well priuate as publike will bee the better felt and perceiued of all those that shall religiously and carefully accustome themselues vnto it Many I know haue written most learnedly and excellently of the sweet fruit and efficacie of praier howbeit I perswade my selfe that wee may say of them and of all others that shall entreat thereof as the Samaritanes sayde to the woman Io. 4.42 1. King 10.8 that brought them tidings of Christ and as the Queene of Saba sayde of the domesticall seruantes of Salomon they do report most rare and surpassing pleasure fruit and commodity to bee present at hand with this most singular and sweete exercise of praier yea thinges incredible to be reported and therefore not to be beleeued of the greater part but vnto them that haue seene Salomon in the face and haue heard the gratious words that proceed out of his mouth to them the one halfe is not reported that they find true by their owne experience and cannot be expressed to others I wish therefore euery Christian soule not to thinke to finde the fruite of prayer demonstrated in paper but to endeuour dayly to feele the force thereof in themselues by practise and then let them tell mee whether this thing be not true that I haue saide For what thing is there that our soules can wish or desire if it be good for vs but may be obtained by prayer What case or sorte soeuer we bee in wee may either bee confirmed or comforted by prayer What worke or labour is there which we take in hand whether of soule or bodie how hard soeuer it be if it bee agreeable to our callings but may be atchieued by prayer In time of peace prayer keepeth
vs in safety In time of warre it getteth vs the victorie In time of prosperitie it keepeth vs from pride In time of aduersitie it keepeth vs from despaire If wee be in health we may pray without paine If wee bee sicke pray and recouer as did Hezekiah If wee bee rich prayer encreaseth our store If wee bee poore prayer maketh vs rich in content and goodnes If we be in authoritie wee haue neede to Pray for wisedome courage and grauity If of the CoÌ„monaltie for obedience loi altie If wee be Pastors our prayers preuaile for the people If we bee parishioners wee must pray and prayse God for and with our Pastors In a word prayer is a present for a Prince and is a delight for the painefull plough-man euery man is delighted with the singing of the Nightingale but no Nightingales song is so sweete in the eares of man as the faithfull prayers of the Saints are in the eares of our God Many commend contemplation but prayer is the soule of the coÌ„templatiue life If thou be in companie thou maiest pray secretly If alone thou maiest pray sweetely Whatsoeuer thou doest or wheresoeuer thou goest if prayer be thy guide thou shalt bee sure to prosper If thou begin to loathe these earthly vanities prayer will bring into thy sight the truest treasures If thou once begin to mortifie thy sinfull affections prayer perfumeth thy soule with most sweete consolation and ioy in the holy Ghost As the hill is the way to the mountaines and the meanes to ascende vnto it so prayer is the way to mortificacation As golde precious stones and marble doe make the houses of Kings so praier doth build the temple of Christ that he may dwell in our heartes by the holy Ghost As fire doth scoure the rust of Iron so prayer doth scowre cleanse our soules from the rust of sinne And as the ioynts of the body are bound together by nerues and sinewes so the soules of the righteous are established by prayer Prayer therefore for the force and efficacie thereof is compared by one to a forke that expelleth all euill things from vs and to a hooke or crooke that pulleth downe from heauen al blessings and good things vpon vs. If therefore thy foule seeme at any time to be cloyed and clogged in the earthly tabernacle of thy bodie the windes of prayer will carrie it aboue the cloudes and conduct thee vnto the pallace of eternall pleasure Pray therefore faithfully and pray continuallie and thou shalt bee sure to haue the presence and assistance of the glorious Trinitie Who therefore will not bee in loue with prayer which pierceth the cloudes preuaileth with God prospereth our affaires at home and abroad by day and by night maketh vs beloued of God and his Angels bringeth sweete rest and peace to our bodies and eternall rest and tranquilitie to our soules to our great comfort in this life and to our endlesse ioy in the worlde to come when Christ Iesus our Iudge and Sauiour shall come in the clouds to make an end of all mortall miseries Who blesse vs all and bring vs at that day into the sight of God his Father that we may see his glorie which hee had with him before the â—ld was made by the gracious guiâ—e of his most holy and blessed spirit which most holy and vndeuidable â—itie one God of most glorious Maâ—e be rendred of vs and all Saints and gels in heauen and in earth all power â—d impire all prayse and glorie and thankesgiuing from this time forth and for euer Amen FINIS Laus Deo