Church but such an humble sinner God draws thee and none but those that are like unto thee near unto his mercy Though thy sins do cleave unto thee be comforted that thou dost not cleave unto thy sins Elkanah gave a more worthy portion to Hannah that was barren but meek and devout than to Peninnah that bare him sons and daughters but was proud and scornful 1 Sam. 1.5 God hath heard his beloved Son when he made Prayers for sinners will hear those sinners that are his Sons when they ask any thing in the name of Christ III. Good fruit must be brought forth in a good season which only remains to be thought upon and to be added to the Consolation of Prayer For every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under the Heaven Eccles 3.1 But neither days nor hours nor seasons did ever come amiss to faithful Prayer Evening and morning and at Noon will I Pray and cry aloud and He shall hear my voice Psal 55.17 which includes all the space of duration For all time is included in Morning Noon and Night Pray without ceasing 1 Thess 5.17 Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance Ephes 6.18 Short passes quick ejections concise forms and remembrances holy breathings Prayers like little posies may be sent forth without number on every occasion and God will note them in his book But all that have a care to walk with God fill their vessels more largely as soon as they rise before they begin the work of the day and before they lie down again at night Which is to observe what the Lord appointed in the Levitical ministery a morning and an evening Lamb to be laid upon the Altar So with them that are not stark irreligious Prayer is the key to open the day and the bolt to shut in the night But as the skies drop the early dew and the evening dew upon the grass yet it would not spring and grow green by that constant and double falling of the dew unless some great showers at certain seasons did supply the rest So the customary devotion of Prayer twice a-day is the falling of the early and the latter dew but if you will increase and flourish in the works of grace empty the great clouds sometimes and let them fall into a full shower of Prayer chuse out the seasons in your own discretion when Prayer should overflow like Jordan in the time of harvest keep strictly as much as you are able to those times of the day which you have designed to appear in before the Lord for then you offer up not only your Prayers but the strict observation of set times which is a double sacrifice and an evidence that you will not dispense to pretermit that holy work for any a vocation He that refers himself at large to Pray when he is at leisure gives God the worst of the day that is his idle time I account them prudent therefore that are precise in keeping Canonical hours of Prayer as they call them so they Pray to God alone who alone knows their heart and so they Pray with the Spirit and with the Vnderstanding 1 Cor. 14.15 that is in a tongue wherein they know what they say and understand the language wherein they vent the meditations of their Spirit This was the milk that the Church of England gave every day out of her breasts to praise God in Common-Prayer at set hours before noon and after in the assemblies of her devout children How many have rejoyced to hear the Chiming of the Bells to call them together and would never miss their station As Peter and John went together to the Temple at the hour of Prayer being the ninth hour Acts 3.1 O when will these profane days come to an end that we may again so orderly so delightfully appear before the living God Of one thing the Devil disappointed us many years past in the time of Prayer which was the Night-offices of prayers called Vigils which are disused because it was feared they grew incident to scandal and uncleanness And though they be left off I believe for good reason in a concourse of open meeting yet let not God lose his tribute of Prayer which should be paid him in the still and quiet opportunity of the night The day is God's and the night is God's the darkness and light to him are both alike let not so many hours as run out from our lying down to our rising up again pass away without any Prayer Says David O Lord I remembred thee in my bed and meditated on thee in the night-watches Psalm 63.6 It seems while the Tabernacle of Moses stood that the Priests did some duties in it all night long Psalm 134.1 Bless the Lord ye servants of the Lord which by night stand in the house of the Lord. The Apostles allowed widows must continue in Supplication and Prayers night and day 1 Tim. 5.5 And Anna the widow-prophetess served God with Fasting and Prayers night and day Luke 2.37 The Lord hath foretold that he will come as a thief in the night at the great day 2 Pet. 3.10 Therefore O Lord with my Soul will I desire thee in the night and at midnight will I think upon thee and call unto thee that if it shall be this night even now when Christ Jesus will come to judge the world my Soul may find mercy from him and both Body and Soul may be glorified and so continue with him for ever All this about the opportunity of time shall shut up with one Instruction of the Psalmist Psal 32.6 Every one that is Godly shall Pray unto thee O Lord in a time that thou mayest be found When you find stirrings and impulsions more than ordinary to provoke you to Prayer follow the admonition of the Spirit and let not such a time slip You know not whether such a divine presage may rowle in your thoughts again I make no question but there are some Critical moments wherein God offers more than he will do again if you neglect him when he courts you with so great advantage But now change the case from mine to the whole Nations from private to publick then thus I will be peremptory in my resolution There is no time too late for any Christian that lives in his single person to beseech God to be merciful to him he may find the same propitiousness that the penitent thief did But there may be a time too late to save a Kingdom or a state from ruine when the Lord hath decreed the period of it Therefore when confusions threaten and begin to peep out watch them betimes and let the whole Land Pray for peace and let the Governours prepare conditions for it to avert publick calamitie If we let tumults and conspiracies grow to a head it will be in vain to struggle by monthly or weekly humiliations when our destiny is unavoidable Plutarch
Eternity I dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble Spirit to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isa 57.15 Let the comparison between the Publican and the Pharisee remain for ever in our memory Luke 18. The Prayer of the poor destitute the contrite the penitent the bleeding heart is a sacrifice well season'd with the salt of anguish and misery Away with high looks and high words Lord thou dost hear the desire of the humble and dost prepare their heart Psalm 10.17 And God comforteth those that are cast down 2 Cor. 7.6 Put your self back who are but dust and ashes in a great distance from the Lord that you may behold him the better in his infinite greatness And a lowly heart will never spare to deject the body O come let us worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord our Maker Solomon pray'd upon his knees 1 Chron. 6. so did Daniel Chap. 6. so did Peter when messengers came to him from Cornelius Acts 9. so St. Paul For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Eph. 3.14 And not only men upon Earth but the glorious Spirits in Heaven cast themselves and their Crowns down before him that sitteth on the Throne Revel 4. Nay the Son of God fell down upon his knees and pray'd unto his Father Luke 22.41 And Fasting which is a pregnant circumstance of humiliation was much in use with Prayer the instances are innumerous to signifie we had no part in any comfort nor any delight in the Creatures till we were reconciled to the Lord. So was Sackcloth used and all apparel of beauty all ornaments of riches and pride were put off for that time Let them be no more than outward circumstances yet they are significant But that which is a sure companion and most intimate to humility in Prayer is Patience It breaks not away in a pet because it is not answer'd at the first or second asking that 's disdainful and arrogant It holds on and attends and cries till the throat is dry I waited patiently for the Lord Psalm 40.1 And there must be patient continuance in them that seek for Glory and Immortality Rom. 2.7 Faith is the foundation of Prayer and to continue the Metaphor Patience is the Roof The winds blow look to the foundation or the building will fall Rain and storms will descend but if they light upon a Roof that is close and compact they run aside and are cast upon the ground He that expects God's pleasure from day to day will neither faint nor fret that his suit hangs long in the Court of Requests such storms as proceed from murmuring cannot beat through a solid Roof Says Habbak Chap. 2. Verse 3. A great thing will the Lord bring to pass but not presently says the Lord The Vision is yet for an appointed time but at the end it shall speak and not lye though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come Many diseases will never be cured well unless they be long a curing and many deliverances will never be throughly setled unless they be long a preparing and many mercies are hid like seed in the ground and will be long a growing I give God thanks that every blessing of worldly Comfort that I Pray'd for the longer I was kept from it and the more I pray'd for it I found it the greater in the end Observe that there is nothing of moment yea be it of lesser and vulgar size with which the Providence of God hath not interwoven a thousand things to be dispatcht with it which requires time perhaps seven years to finish them Expect therefore from the Divine wisdom to do all things in their order and give honour to the Supream Majesty to wait his leisure For yet a little and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10.37 3. The third thing which gives assurance of Comfort to Prayer is Zeal Devotion Fervency which will pluck on Patience further and further For he that is zealous in any thing will not easily give over till he have brought his ends to pass Zeal is a continual and an earnest supplicant it Prays without ceasing 1 Thess 5.17 Prays exceedingly 1 Thess 3.10 Asks with confidence seeks with diligence knocks with perseverance A swarm of Bees that is many thousands must gather into a Hive to fill it with Hony-combs and a swarm of Prayers is sweeter before the Lord than the Hony and the Hony-comb Likewise it is as vehement as it is assiduous labouring fervently for you in Prayers Coloss 4.12 Stir up your wit and diligence and memory and meditations when you come to spread out your wants before your Father but if you yawn out heedless heartless petitions you shall depart with discouragement as it is Psalm 80.4 O Lord God of hosts how long wilt thou be angry with the Prayer of thy people The Laodiceans were lukewarm neither hot nor cold in the worship of God therefore the Spirit said to the Angel of that Church Be zealous and repent Revel 3.19 Zeal is defined to be a vehement and inflamed love There must be an ardour and a flame in Prayer as if we would mount it up like fire to Heaven Then we may say that a Seraphin hath laid a coal from the Altar upon our mouth and touched our lips Isa 6.7 Zeal takes away the Soul for a time and carries it far above us I write to them that have felt it that it darts a mans Spirit out of him like an arrow out of a bow This is it which infallibly begets Hope Comfort Patience all in a Sheaf as they are divinely put together Rom. 12. verses 11 12. Fervent in Spirit serving the Lord rejoycing in Hope patient in Tribulation continuing instant in Prayer The transportment of Zeal will excuse or rather commend some Ejaculations of Prayer which seem to be too bold with God as Psalm 44. How long wilt thou turn away the face from us O Lord and forgettest our misery and trouble So Jer. 14.9 Why should'st thou be as a man asleep and as a mighty man that cannot save us And we do but follow our Saviour's pattern in it upon the Cross My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Tell not a troubled heart that is in anguish tell it not of modesty it is a complement it will not be tied to The Shunamite swallowed up in sorrow for the loss of her child runs to mount Carmel to Elisha and before she said any thing she catcht him fast by the feet Gehazi thought it irreverent and unwoman-like behaviour and laid hold to thrust her away Let her alone says the Prophet for her Soul is vexed within her 2 Kings 4.27 The passions of an afflicted Soul have much indulgence to break out far They are not in good compass till vehemency of Zeal carry them beyond ordinary rule and fashion Mary Magdalen did
Christian Consolations Taught from FIVE HEADS IN RELIGION I. Faith II. Hope III. The Holy Spirit IV. Prayer V. The Sacraments Written by a Learned PRELATE Isaiah 40.1 2. Comfort ye comfort ye my people saith your God Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquity is pardoned LONDON Printed for R. Royston Bookseller to his most Excellent Majesty 1671. TO THE READER THIS Manual of Christian Consolations derived from Five Heads of great importance in Religion was written by a late R. Prelate of our Church and is now Printed according to his own Copy The Papers were presented by him to a Person of Honour for whose private use they were designed But as the Noblest Spirits are most communicative that Noble and Religious Lady was pleased to impart them for the good also of others We read in the Evangelists how that the Holy Jesus who went about doing good that 's the short but full Character which * Acts 10.38 Saint Peter gives of him did by a Miracle of Mercy bless five Loaves to the feeding of a very great multitude And may the same Almighty Goodness bless and prosper whatsoever Spiritual good is contained in these Five Helps and Directions for a Christian's Comfort to the refreshing and strengthening of such Souls as truly hunger and thirst after God May the serious and devout Readers taste and see how good the Lord is that his Loving kindness is better than Life and that the Light of his Countenance the sense of his favour is infinitely more Heart-cheering and brings with it a truer and larger satisfaction than the encrease of Corn Psal 4. and Wine and Oil doth to the men of this world who only or chiefly mind Earthly things and unwisely place their felicity in the fading and empty enjoyments of this present life It is good then that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord Lam. 3. for he is good to them that wait for him to the Soul that seeketh him He who is the God of Love and even * 1 Jo. 4. Love it self He who is the ever-flowing Fountain of Goodness will not fail to fill the hungry with good things Such a Christian hath meat to eat which the world knows not of he feeds on the hidden Manna he hath as S. Austin said of S. Ambrose occultum os in corde ejus and with this he doth sapida gaudia de pane Dei ruminare The Father of the World who openeth his hand and satisfieth the desire of every living thing Psal 145. giving to all their meat in due season he is as ready to fulfil the desire of them that fear him he will give grace and glory Psal 84. and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly And here from the character and qualification of the Persons them that fear him and them that walk uprightly it highly concerns us to observe and to lay it to heart That a Sincere desire and Serious endeavour to fear God and walk uprightly is a necessary and indispensable Condition to qualifie and make us meet for the receiving of the best of Divine favours and blessings We must first walk in the fear of the Lord if we would walk in the Comfort of the Holy Ghost as these two are set together in Acts 9.31 If we would have the Spirit to be our Comforter we must follow the Spirit as our Guide and Counsellor If we would find rest unto our Souls we must take Christ's yoke upon us Matth. 11. the yoke of his Precepts which are all holy and just and good A state of inward Comfort and true Tranquillity of Spirit can never be secured and preserved but by a continued care to walk before God in a faithful obedience to his Will in all things For there is no peace to the wicked as is * Chap. 48. 22. Chap. 57. 21. twice exprest by the noble Prophet Isaiah But Great peace have they that love thy Law Psal 119.165 saith the Royal Psalmist the man after God's own heart who herein spake his own experience and elsewhere Psal 37.37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace While he lives he lives in peace his Soul dwells at ease he feels an unspeakable joy and pleasure within upon the sense of his doing his duty and being faithful in obedience to his Lord and Master in Heaven And when he dies he departs in peace and shall * Isa 57. enter into peace and ‖ Mat. 25. into the joy of his Lord. Here he tastes how sweet the Lord is but there he shall be abundantly satisfied with the plenty of God's House Psal 37. and made to drink of the River of his pleasures The meek shall eat and be satisfied and their heart shall live for ever Psal 22. And so full and compleat shall be their joy and satisfaction that they shall neither hunger nor thirst any more Rev. 7. for the Lamb shall feed them and shall lead them unto living Fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes This is the happy Portion of those Souls who have the Lord for their God with whom there is fulness of joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures most pure and permanent for evermore The Contents of the Chapters THe Introduction CHAP. I. Of Faith That Faith is the Ground and Foundation of a Christian's Comfort Several doubts and scruples about Believing answered Page 1. CHAP. II. Of Hope That a Christian's Comfort flows from the Grace of Hope The object of Hope is 1. That which is Good 2. A Good absent 3. Though absent yet possible and that for Three Reasons 4. Though possible yet difficult An account of two sorts of difficulties with particular encouragements against them Pag. 13. CHAP. III. Of the Holy Spirit How a Christian's Comforts flow from the Inhabitation and Testimony of the Holy Ghost as also from the Sanctification of the Spirit unto all Obedience and the fruits of Righteousness Pag. 67. CHAP. IV. Of Prayer Prayer is the great Instrument of a Christian's Comfort Concerning Prayer three things to be considered I. The Substance or Matter of Prayer in three Heads 1. Thanksgivings 2. Supplications 3. Intercessions II. The Qualification of them that Pray III. The fitness of Time for Prayer Pag. 99. CHAP. V. Of the Sacraments How the Sacraments minister to a Christian's Comfort A general Survey of Sacraments Five Reasons why God ordained Two Sacraments under the Gospel What Comforts flow from the Grace of Baptism What Comforts flow from the Lord's Supper Pag. 155. Christian Consolations taught from five Heads in Religion THE INTRODUCTION THE work of the Ministry consists in two things in Threatnings or Comforts The first is useful for the greatest part of Christians who are led by the Spirit of bondage and
the first enticement no nor upon the second or third assault Resist the Devil and he will fly from you quit your self like a man fight like a Christian The flesh is weak but the Spirit is willing ready able to assist you Matth. 26.41 Thus Hope waxeth valiant and assures it self of victory against customs habits and all contracted impotencies 2. Lay now our adventure the toil and peril of our labour wherein we are employ'd in another balance and more difficulty will appear For Hope is wise and doth not flatter it self as if the Kingdom of Heaven were accessible with little pains What carefulness ought this to work in us what self-denial what fear what zeal what unblamable conversation I run I fight I keep under my body and bring it into subjection 1 Cor. 9.27 For Christ Jesus I have suffered the loss of all things Phil. 3.8 Christ having overcome the sharpness of death hath opened the kingdom of Heaven to all believers yet to put us to our skill and labour to follow mark what he hath taught us Matth. 7.14 Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life and few there be that find it And therefore is it so strait and narrow a question worthy to be resolved to teach us and to comfort us First a very religious life is said by a Metaphor to go in at a strait gate because it is our master-piece to find the door or to begin well therefore it is call'd to be born again For as to be born into the world needs more art and skilful Midwifery than to bring us up so to be regenerate to begin to live the life that is in Christ is exceeding irksom to flesh and bloud so many are the enticements that throng about the way to keep us from the door and to hold us in love with those sins which have been our companions As an Orator will be more timorous to deliver the first period of his speech than all that follows so we stick long at the first on-set to reform to be strict to pass away with so much vanity as must be forsaken The penitent thief could not find the door till he was going out of the world St. Paul as some compute was twenty eight years old before he left to be a blasphemer But rush on and make way through all resistances he that hath one foot over the threshold and hath cast the world behind him is well advanced into the courts of our God Secondly A Heavenly mind gathers it self up into one wish and no more One thing have I desired of the Lord which I will require Psal 27.4 Grant me thy self O Lord and I will ask no more The new creature asks nothing of God but to enjoy God give me this O Lord and for the rest let Ziba take all I will part with all to buy that one Pearl the riches of Heavenly grace The servant of sin hath all manner of pleasures under Heaven to trade in Can he ask for a shop with more variety of ware why may he not have these you will say and life eternal to boot Some of them are inconsistent with life eternal but all are not so they be added and not sought for as our Saviour distinguisheth First seek the kingdom of God and these things shall be added Matth. 6.33 But if you seek them which is to love them for themselves and above the kingdom of God it is like a man that carries a piece of timber at bredth upon his back there is no door wide enough for a man to get in with such an impediment upon his shoulders It is not the gate that excludes him but he thrusts himself out with his own improvidence Thirdly There are thousands of scandals millions of errors to be avoided but truth and holiness are in the middle in a little compass and happy is he that shuns extreams and falls perpendicularly upon the golden mean The Commandments of God are but ten words Deut. 4.13 the inventions of men and the forms of will-worship are innumerous Pray Fast give Alms Christ comprehends much external duty under those three Heads but the Traditions of men are more than can be put into a Catalogue Call upon God in the time of trouble that and no more is the Pole-star of Faith in Prayer but what a compass doth Monkishness take in to drop beads in the invocation of Angels and Saints Profaneness neglects the honour of God Superstition falls into needless excesses about it the true fear of God is in the centre as far from the one extream as from the other As in an accurate Song you must keep Minim-time or else you will put the whole Quire out so look that you sing the new song of the Lord with trembling and accurate observation miss neither Cliff nor Note that is neither sound doctrine nor pious practice These are the Reasons why it is so hard to get access to Christ in a narrow way and through a strait gate If these difficulties be not discern'd by some it is because they take up Christianity as it is in use among men and as they are born to it But they that came to it in their years of understanding and were trained up in Church-discipline many years before they were baptized and all that time were put to exact trial what they would prove and were taught it over and over how the Laws of Christ were far stricter than any other Laws in the world these were preacquainted with the Covenant which they must perform and then received it with the largest and hardest conditions Yet they were brought on with two special comforts First that God did behold from Heaven the mightiness of the task which we took upon us the troubles of persecutions the dangers of temptations the infirmities of man to resist them He knows whereof we are made he remembreth we are but dust it puts him to admire the performances of his Saints as Jesus marvelled at the Centurion's Faith Matth. 8.10 Secondly when we are under our hazards we shall have an answer from the Lord as St. Paul had My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness 2 Cor. 12.11 Therefore as the Lord said of David when he had chosen him I have laid help upon one that is mighty Psalm 89.19 So we casting our selves upon the help of God upon one that is Almighty though of our selves we have gathered little into our Omer the blessing of God upon it will not let us lack Every hard matter that rose among the people was to be brought to Moses Exod. 18.16 so in every hard cause desire the Lord to plead it and to judge it bring it to him leave it in his Court and he will end it These are the Cordials to revive Hope touching the difficulties it finds in the way to obtain that Good which is set before it CHAP. III. How a Christian's Comforts flow from the
it self to be an Immaterial substance a spark kindled in us by God from Reason and Will and Memory But what evidence is there that there is a Divine cause that worketh in and is more than these natural Faculties It is requisite to work close unto this question and I answer First because the bounds of nature are known beyond which nature cannot reach forth it self as it works in its own sphere to preserve it self in being and in well-being in health in wealth in fame and glory in extending our selves unto ages to come by leaving a posterity in preserving our Country where we are born and the like But to have our conversation in Heaven at this present in Heaven to ascend thither in our desires and in the tendencies of all our actions to aspire to live in blessedness for ever to long to be at that rest where there is no sin to look for a Church which hath neither spot nor wrinkle this could not enter into us to prosecute it all industriously constantly chearfully but by a supernatural elevation far above the vigour of a Soul prest down by a corruptible Body that is by the power of the Holy Ghost Secondly I feel the pulse of that Divine Spirit beating in me by delighting in tribulations for Christs sake and taking pleasure in infirmities upon the same score 2 Cor. 12.10 And again I am filled with consolation I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulations 2 Cor. 7.4 An obstinate Pagan might arm himself with patience and resolution to vex his persecutors and rather fall into them than decline them out of spight and contumacy But Self-love being spun out of our bowels bred in the bone who could rejoyce to endure anguish upon anguish that God might be glorified but by strength which we are not born unto but which is given us because we are born again of the Spirit Go farther yet How much is the content of a natural man laid aside when a good Christian in his deliberate thoughts sometimes prays to have the rebellions of his heart kept under by some expedient cross wisheth for wholsom correction to beat down the rankness of his sins expects God's fan to winnow the chaff from the wheat For he knows that as too much light dazles the Eyes so too much prosperitie surfeits the mind Therefore a good practitioner in Repentance perceives there is no better way to bring him in from his wandrings than to be scourged home with the gentle hand of God To which some Expositors say the Spouse alludes Cant. 6.5 reading one word as it is right in our Margent Turn away thine eyes from me for they have puffed me up If we be puffed up it is time to pray that the eye of God's outward mercy be for a little turned from us But where had nature learnt that Lesson if the Holy Ghost had never taught it Thirdly As the Apostle says No man hates his own flesh Every man not overcome with a phrenzy of melancholy loves his own being and would preserve his life The Devil that cannot die knows how loth we are to die All that a man hath will he give for his life Job 2.4 But how many Saints have undergone how many more are willing to undergo the fiery trial and offer up their bodies for the testimony of the Lord Jesus not to be cried up in popularity not to be enrolled in the same of an History as there was such a sprinkling among the Heathen But they have died like Lambs in the midst of Wolves when they have been hated and evil spoken of in excess because they would die for the truth of the Gospel which their persecutors accounted to be blasphemy against the Gods which they worshipped If Parents or Wives or Children hung upon their arms and besought them with tears to spare themselves they threw them off as Christ did Peter Get thee behind me Satan thou art an offence unto me Matth. 16. verse 22. To see a Martyr at the point of death feel no horror in his fleshly nature but to be raised up as high as the third Heavens with zeal what humane power could bring him to it nothing but the Holy Ghost did as I may say lure his Soul out of the Body with a bait of a Crown of Glory Fourthly The fruits of the Spirit are love joy peace goodness faith temperance c. Gal. 5.22 Is not the Tree known by the fruit Such a cluster hanging all together growing constantly and being fair and sound Tota in toto tempore cum toto corde it is not possible that they should grow like a Bull-rush out of the mud of corrupt nature No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.3 that is say it effectually and from true allegiance to serve him as a Lord for else Christ will say Why call you me Lord Lord and do not the thing which I say Luke 6.46 This is the Spirit that acts not only in prophesies and miraculous gifts but in every child of God Even in the old Testament Nehem. 9.20 Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them them that is those that were led out of Egypt by Moses and hearkened to him And much more in the state of the New Testament Rom. 5.5 The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us This might be extended into a great length that the Holy Ghost is the Comforter called so by appropriation though it belong to every person of the Holy Trinity and is well exprest in the first Divine Song which is Printed before the Psalms of David in Meeter Thou art the very Comsorter in all woe and distress The Heavenly gift of God most high which no tongue can express This is the Vnction which we have from the Holy One 1 Epist Jo. 2.20 The anointing which we have received of him that abideth in you Verse 27. Anointing-oil is an oil to cure the sick James 5. An oil of gladness Psalm 45. A fomentation to mitigate aches and torments in the bones and in the heart 2. And can the Fruits chuse but be answerable to the Root they must needs partake of it First because all that we do to the honour of God must be done with gladness willingly and chearfully else it comes not from the Spirit of sons but either from the Spirit of bondage or rather from the Spirit of the world The new Disciples received the word gladly and were baptized Acts 2.41 They continued with one accord daily in the Temple with gladness and simplicity of heart Verse 46. I was glad when they said unto me we will go into the house of the Lord Psalm 122.1 Sing Psalms make a joyful noise unto God Psalm 66.1 Let us come with assurance in our supplications that we shall be heard praying with Faith in the Holy Ghost Jud. verse 20. And then the prayer of the upright shall be Gods delight Prov.
I am at my furthest I desire the appearance of the Lord Jesus at the great day Come Lord Jesus come quickly I can do no more I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ I must do no more for I must not attempt my own dissolution I wish for the conversion of the Jews to the Faith I must not compel them This holds in a few things In the most willingness must shew some practice as in the same Chapter Verse 11. Now therefore perform the doing of it that as there was a readiness to will so there may be a performance also of that which you have But to desire to do and to do little is a sign that there was little desire This hath overthrown many that they desire not to reach high But we know that God gives his Grace by Talents and not in petty summs yet a luke-warm professor can be content with mites Could such a one get a moderate competency of righteousness knowing that without holiness no man shall see God then he would sit down and let others strive if they like it to be the tallest Cedars in the house of the Lord. There are many such indifferent Disciples that would be always babes and never come to a manly growth wrap themselves about with as many fig-leaves as would cover their shame and think they want no more apparel These if they knew what it were to a dram that would serve them to attain salvation they would reach so far if the grace of God would assist them but would put themselves to no trouble to purifie their body and Spirit any further Here 's a pretence of a desire to serve God but with so much laziness with so much lethargy that the Lord disdains it as dead carion He would serve God and he would serve Mammon He approves much prayer but he cannot attend it He would not for all the world but be a Christian yet a small share in profit or a snap at a little pleasure will pervert him to be a dishonest Christian But real and holy desire stands up for much though it cannot do so much honour to God as he would like the disease Ephialtes that oppresseth us in the night between sleeping and waking we would turn to the other side of the bed and cannot But to shake off this Incubus it listens after all the noble exploits that the Saints of God have done and would exactly follow them or if it were possible run before them if not it will be heartily sorry that frailty makes it come short of the best It would compound for no less than to pay all if it were able Then you shall find the heart pant often with these inward earnings Sweet Saviour should any of thy servants love thee better than I should any of thy Disciples be more obedient than I No Lord for none of thine are so much endebted to thy passion because none had so many sins to be forgiven How amiable are thy Commandments O Lord of hosts my Soul thirsteth to be the nearest of them that shall stand before the presence of the living God Lord let me love thee as Peter did Lord let me love thee more than these So I have revealed the First comforts flowing from the Holy Ghost by his Inhabitation and inward Testimony and the next Comforts by the Fruits of Righteousness and those sincere desires of Godliness which by Christs merciful interpretation supply our failings All which I conclude out of our Church-Song made to the Holy Ghost Visit our minds and into us Thy Heavenly Grace inspire That in all Truth and Godliness We may have true desire CHAP. IV. Prayer is the great Instrument of a Christian's Comfort Concerning Prayer three things to be considered I. The Substance or Matter of Prayer in three Heads 1. Thanksgivings 2. Supplications 3. Intercessions II. The Qualification of them that Pray III. The fitness of Time for Prayer THE order laid down in the beginning carries me to the Fourth part of Christian Consolation The Heavenly delight of Prayer It is the lively expression of Faith the Embassador which Hope sends to God the comfort of Love the fellowship of the Spirit our Advocate unto our Advocate Christ Jesus our Incense whose smoke ascends up and is sweet in the nostrils of the most High which promiseth such abundant success that humility had rather conceive than utter it lest we should seem to boast A lowly supplicant to God never rose up from his knees without some stirrings of gracious expectation nor without a prophetical instinct that the mercy of the Lord was nigh at hand Which fortunate presage Isaiah confirms unto us Chap. 56.7 I will make them joyful in my house of Prayer And how readily may we use this mighty Ordinance of God how soon it may be done if we have a mind to it What freedom have we no man can deny it to utter a brief Prayer and very often if we will in the greatest toil and business The tongue of the stammerer shall be ready to speak elegantly Isa 32.4 It is so facile a part of Religion as he that hath a tongue can scarce miss it It is as easie to say Our Father which art in Heaven as to see Heaven which is always in our eye Every Sect of Pagans and Idolaters were taught by instinct to fly unto it ex tempore as the Heathen Mariners cried every man to his God Jon. 1.5 An Atheist falling into a sudden danger as suppose a Pistol were put to his breast would cry out as soon to God to help him as any true believer And he that upon deliberation did say there was no God will break out into a confession before he is aware that there is a God by natural impulsion A poor Whelp hath found a way to lick its own sores whole with its tongue so when we are opprest with misery whether the evil of sin or the evil of punishment we are prompted by the natural notions of our Soul to lick the sore with our tongue that is to call for help from Heaven That Soul which God did breath into man cannot shake off this principle That all succour comes from above for which it must breath out it self unto God No creature among Beasts but being smitten will fall upon the way to relieve it self except a blind incogitant sinner Such as have written upon their sagacity in that kind tell us That the Fishes in the fresh waters being struck with a tool of Iron will rub themselves upon the glutinous skin of the Tench to be cured The Hart wounded with an Arrow runs to the Herb Dittany to bite it that the shaft may fall out that struck in his body The Swallow will seek out the green Tetterwort to recover the eyes of her young ones when they are blinded Only a stupid sinner forgets how to redintegrate his miserable estate by throwing himself down prostrate before God in humble petition He walks forlorn
lost to himself lost to his right wits because he hath no knowledge or no good opinion of the comfort of Prayer Which is my purpose to make him learn by that which follows looking upon the Substance or Matter of Prayer The Qualification of him that Prayeth and the fitness of Time when Prayer is to be made I. The Matter of Prayer is as copious as all occasions that can be named it shall suffice for my purpose to treat of three Heads Glorifications with Thanksgivings Supplications and Intercessions 1. The first is bent to magnifie the Almighty to extol his Name to praise him for his Goodness This is the Hallelujah of David and of the Saints in Heaven that is give glory to Jah or the great Jehovah which is followed with a rare variety in the Song of the three Children O all ye works of the Lord bless ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for ever It is a ditty that is balsamed all over with a perfusion of delight to praise God from all things that he hath made from the centre of the Earth to the top of Heaven And this is most divinely exprest in that which is called St. Ambrose his Hymn in our Common-Prayer We praise thee O God we knowledge thee to be the Lord And let the servant of God that will listen to me repeat it often and often For it is a piece of devotion so sweetly spread out into the branches of Heavenly praise Confession of Faith and devout Petitions that the like did never come forth since the time it was penn'd Let me speak to others out of the sense of my own heart and I may safely profess that in the service and worship of God I find nothing so delightful as to continue in the praise and honour of the Lord. If another contradict it and say that there are some means more aptly calculated as I may speak for the high Meridian of Comfort He is He and I am I and I appeal from him to my self what I find in my own motions and feelings And what man knoweth the things of a man save the Spirit of a man which is in him 1 Cor. 2.11 And I observe that in the prudent institution of our Church to hold forth the Consolation we have in Christ after the participation of his Body and Bloud in the blessed Sacrament it teacheth us to break out all together into a Jubilee Glory be to God on high We praise thee we bless thee we glorifie thee c. For when we are full of that holy Feast and have eaten Angels food we fall into the tune of Angels and signifie immediately before we depart how much our Spirit rejoyceth in God our Saviour But who knew better the mind of the Lord than the Spirit it self in those admirable exstacies of David Sing praises unto God for it is pleasant Psalm 135.3 Sing praises unto our God for it is pleasant and praise is comely Psalm 147.1 Sing aloud unto God our strength make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob Psalm 81.1 Every furrow in the book of the Psalms is sown with such seeds I know nothing more certain more constant to expel the sadness of the world than to sound out the praises of the Lord as with a Trumpet and when the heart is cast down it will make it rebound from Earth to Heaven This was the wisdom of the holy Church throughout all the world till distempers put us out of the right way not long since to solemnize the praise of our Saviour upon the Feasts of Christmas Easter c. that we might celebrate the great works which God hath done for us with the voice of joy and praise and with a multitude that kept Holy Day Psalm 42.4 O give thanks unto the Lord be telling of his mercy and salvation from day to day Give thanks unto him with chearfulness for a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful Who is a just man and fair condition'd that would not pay a debt and be exonerated of it He that can say he hath paid what he ow'd is it not a quietness to his mind to be discharg'd It goes further a great deal and brings more advantage when we offer up the sacrifice of retribution the incense of Thanksgiving unto the Lord for we draw on more benefits when we declare the goodness of the Lord upon the receipt of the old And the gratuitum which God gives is a thousand fold greater than the present which we bring This proposed to them that will fly high from the pinacle of the Lord's Prayer the first Petition Hallowed be thy Name 2. Neither let them faint that stoop low in Supplication for mercy will embrace them on every side Two things being put together are of much weight we pray with God's Spirit and by his Word He invites us in his Word to pray and he gives the gift with which we pray I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and Supplications Zach. 12.10 Did He pour upon us his Grace and have we received a Commandment the outward sign of his Will and can we suspect after all this that He will put us off and deny us Is his Grace given in vain or hath He sent his Word to delude us He hath kindled a fire in our breasts and it is an Heavenly flame that burns within us Lord though we are vile and despicable thou canst not despise the acting of thine own Spirit nor frustrate thine own operations Or do we come unbidden when we cast our selves down in thy presence Nay Lord thou hast beckned and called us Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden Hold fast to these two and who can forbid us to be comforted the Lord bids us pray and he gives us a heart to pray For it is not strange to his mercy perhaps it is strange to mans conceipt to give us strength to bring forth that obedience both to will and to do which himself hath commanded As he gave the Blessed Virgin strength to bring forth the Babe who was conceived and formed in her womb by the Holy Ghost This I do the rather enforce because we can see no comfort in our selves therefore as I derive all the vertue and spirituality that is in Prayer from the efficacy of Grace So I refer all the success to Christ in whom we are blessed with all spiritual blessings Eph. 1.3 Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my Name he will give it Jo. 15.16 But He and his Father are one therefore he says If ye shall ask the Father any thing in my Name I will do it Jo. 14. verse 14. If we had no better means to God than our selves and our own merits there were no hope to speed nay our hearts would be as faint and dead as if we heard our selves denied before we had opened our lips But we conclude as it is to
the most of our Collects through Christ our Lord. When we bring that Name in the rear and quote him for our Merit and Mediator then I know it will be well and that the Lord will hear the petitions of his servants Should we not put our requests into Christs hand to offer them to his Father Sion might spread forth her complaints and there would be none to comfort her and we might remain for ever in that heavy plight Psalm 77. verse 3. I remembred God and was troubled I complained and my Spirit was overwhelmed But if we renounce our wretched selves and imagine not the least intrinsecal perfection to be in our Prayers do we sail then by the Cape of Good Hope yes because God is contented to yield upon such addresses Jacob may wrestle with the Angel all night and protest he will not let him go till he have blessed him But Victus est quia voluit God was overcome because he would be overcome of Jacob he lets us prevail because he is willing to yield but there is no strength is us to win if he would not suffer himself to be vanquisht There is no other person but Christ in whom the Father I know not what kind of necessity to call it cannot but be well pleased Which made him say before his Disciples Jo. 11.41 Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me and I know that thou hearest me always As it is also Heb. 5.7 Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong crying and tears was heard for his piety This is the preheminence of our High Priest who is an Orator for us all that the Lord cannot reject his Prayers Therefore committing our daily Oraisons to our High Priest to bear them into the Holy of Holies before his Father they are in a sure hand and they that know his Name will put their trust in thee Psalm 9.10 Much more they that know his Office perfectly Wherefore let Prayer carry on these considerations with it That we are invited by God to that duty That the Spirit instigates us unto it and helps our infirmities Rom. 8.26 That it is presented to the Father by the mediation of the Son then how canst thou be sad O my Soul and fear to miscarry Is not the lot fallen unto thee in a pleasant field and may'st thou not promise to thy self a very goodly heritage Without all dispute then proceed unto Prayer and for a beginning 1. Ask in Faith James 1.6 that is attribute unto God that he is Almighty and can do above all that we ask or think Consent to his truth that he is faithful in his promises for he that believeth not those makes God a lyar Acknowledge his goodness and mercy through Christ that He will withhold no good thing from them that lead a Godly life Let there be no wavering no disputing about these Attributes of God lest we be condemned out of our own mouth So much Faith so much efficacy so much confidence so much comfort in Prayer Then will a solicitous Christian reply What will become of me I have not that plenitude of Faith at least in sundry occasions I have it not to ascertain my self that I shall prevail with God No more had Abraham himself a perfect Faith without any flaw Excellent things are spoken of him Rom. 4.18 Who against hope believed in hope and that he staggered not at the promise but was strong in Faith Verse 20. Yet see how he stoopt a little Gen. 17.18 Shall a Son be born unto him that is an hundred years old and shall Sarah that is ninety years old bear O that Ishmael may live God is not extream to mark what is done amiss in every convulsion of Faith which appears Psalm 31. verse 22. I said in my haste I am cast out of thine eyes nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplication when I cried unto thee You must be sure that in general David subscribed to the power and truth and goodness of God but there was a temptation upon him at that time in some particular case in which he distrusted or doubted that there was no likelihood to prevail But if there be such a one that says I will pray but I know I shall be never the better he is an infidel and mocks God in that bad mind he did well to say he should be never the better for he did usurp a form of Godliness and denied the power thereof He is the right Supplicant but a very rare one that hath no staggering or diffidence in his heart that comes close up to our Saviour's rule Mark 11.24 What things soever ye desire when ye Pray believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them Yet the Lord will not cast them off who are but in the next form and do not resolutely promise success unto themselves in the instant of their present Supplications but bear it thus between Faith and doubting whether I shall succeed in this or that I am not confident but of this I am most assured that I shall be the better for my Prayers And I would it were thus and thus because I conceive it would be best for me but I am certain it will be better than the best that I can imagine which the Lord knows to be most expedient Another perhaps may wrangle himself into an error and say How do the Heathen and the wicked obtain good things if nothing will prevail with God but the Prayer of Faith Consider that even a Pagan and Idolater would ever Pray but that they have some kind of belief to obtain fruit by their Prayers The King of Nineveh bad a solemn Fast at the hearing of Jonah's prophesie For says he Who can tell if God will turn and repent and turn away from his fierce anger that we perish not Jon. 3.9 None but a Lunatick would ask for relief from them that had neither knowledge of his case nor power to redress it O but the prayers of such are not grounded on the Faith that we speak of It is true such a Faith as possest Idolaters is not that which impetrates mercy from God Then I say neither Jews nor Mahumetans nor wicked men get any thing by that Prayer to which the promise is made Ask and ye shall have For whether they Pray or not all that they obtain had come to pass though they had held their peace It is for our sins and to scourge us that they have kingdoms and victories it is not their motley-faith that did purchase them And for all manner of store and plenty that the Earth yields to them it is but as God gives fodder to the Cattle and meat to the yong Ravens that call upon him 2. The Prayer of Faith then is only available but out of the mouth of an humble suiter For who will give an alms to a proud begger Thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth
the Lions that devoured us This is Charity not only to have Communion with all the Saints but compassion for all the world Therein we follow the foot-steps of Christ in his mediatorship as far as we are able who hath an unchangeable Priesthood and ever lives to make Intercession for us Heb. 7.25 And who bare the sins of many and made Intercession for the transgressors Isa 53.12 Likewise it is the office of those that have great interest in God's favour to bless others with their Prayers as the Lord told Abimelech King of Gerar Abraham is a Prophet and he shall pray for thee and thou shalt live Gen. 20.7 So he said to Eliphaz the Temanite and to his other two friends My servant Job shall Pray for you for him will I accept Job 42.8 All Israel had been destroyed for worshipping the Calf in Horeb had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach to turn away his wrath Psalm 106.23 What says an old writer art thou Moses more merciful than God art thou more pitiful to the people than he that saves us from all evil No says he thou art infinite short of the loving kindness of the Lord but he put thy Charity to the proof to see what vehement entreaties thou wouldst make for the deliverance of the Nation When the same people were like to be overrun by the Philistines what course did Samuel take says he Gather all Israel to Mizpah which was a Proseucha or place for publick Prayer and I will Pray for you to the Lord 1 Sam. 7.5 And you shall find most victorious success upon it Verse 10. What comfortable Orators are the mighty Saints of God what a safeguard it is unto us all when they live among us A wise man is the price and redemption of many fools says a Heathen so a Mediator that is very dear to God is a protection not only to the good but to the wicked that are about him Have we not cause then to Pray for the continuance of such that they may live long to Pray for us Should Paul need to desire the Prayers of the Thessalonians 1 Epist 5.25 or of the Hebrews Chap. 13.18 Could they forget that which so much concern'd their welfare Now the worthy servants of the Lord may prevail much one by one others of the common rank had need to meet by hundreds and by thousands in great congregations that every single mans Prayer may be a drop in a shower that while every man Prays for all all may Pray for every man So great is the opinion of good consequents from the Intercession of Gods servants that infidels and ungodly who thought it would be labour in vain to speak to God for themselves have sued unto the Saints on Earth to prefer petitions for them Darius that worshipt false Gods sent to the Jews at Hierusalem to Pray for the life of the King and his Sons Ezra 6.10 And they that persecuted Jeremy besought him Pray for us unto the Lord our God Jer. 42.20 And Simon Magus turn'd himself to Peter and the Apostles to intercede for him Pray unto the Lord for me that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me Acts 8.24 This is the summ that Intercession of Prayer whether active or Passive whether it be to give or to receive a blessing is exceeding full of Consolation II. To go in order to the next Head Who they be that shall get benefit and comfort by Prayer is quickly defined We know that all things work together for good to them that love God Rom. 8.28 to none other you may be sure He that doth not truly call the God of Heaven his Father as Christ begins his Prayer shall have no share in the portion of Sons We may intercede for prophane and impenitent men and our Prayer shall return into our own bosom But while they remain such the mercies of the Lord will be strange unto them They are not of the body of the mystical Church and all the fresh Springs are derived unto them that are within the Sanctuary While the Jews continued under the hardness of their heart God discharged the Prophet for appearing in their behalf Pray not thou for this people neither lift up cry nor Prayer for them neither make Intercession to me for I will not hear thee Jer. 7.16 And with no less or rather more severity Ezek. 14.14 Though these three men Noah Job and Daniel were in the land they should deliver none but their own Souls And if the wicked commence a suit in their own name the Lord will not be entreated of them What have they to do with holy Ordinances that have no fellowship with holy practices To come before the Lord with a lap full of sins and a mouth full of prayers what an Heterogeneal Sacrifice is it will the Mediator Christ Jesus bring it for them before his Father If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me Psalm 66.18 And the throne of iniquity shall have no fellowship with thee Psalm 99. verse 20. Many in our land and in our days Pray for the confusion of them that brought all to confusion but themselves are in pursuance of notorious crimes and rebellion against God They would advance that government to which we have sworn to be faithful by the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance but they make no conscience to break their Oaths and Covenants which they have made to God It is not to suppress sin and tyranny and injustice that they are instant with God but to be revenged for their own injuries and losses Their Prayers are compounded with such sins as quite marre them So many a pair of Beads have been dropt in corners for the extirpation of the Protestant Religion Many a Mass hath been said for the good success of Jesuitical Treasons Many a Rosary was run over to bring the Powder-treason to its bloudy birth If they have no better stuff than this in their Mattins they had as good Pray to Devils as to Saints I will that men Pray always or every where lifting up holy hands without wrath 1 Tim. 2.8 Let go wrath and malice and bitterness Holiness becometh the house of Prayer and holiness becometh the mouth of Prayer If any man be a worshipper of God and doth his will him he heareth Jo. 9.31 Do justly live chastly give charitably walk circumspectly and then Pray confidently For whatsoever we ask we receive of him because we keep his Commandments and do those things which are pleasing in his sight 1 Epist Jo. 3.22 But then will the trembling Christian say wo is me for I am a great sinner wo is me for I am filthy and polluted and of unclean lips Isa 6.5 then how shall I turn me to my God in Prayer O thou that fallest low upon the Earth oppressed with the burden of thy sins stand up and be chearful before God none is fit for Prayer in the Militant