THE SPIRIT of PRAYER OR A DISCOURSE WHEREIN The Nature of Prayer is Opened the Kinds of Prayer are Handled and the Right Manner of Praying Discover'd Several Cases about this Duty are Resolved From EPH. 6. 18. Praying Alwayes with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and Watching thereunto with all Perseverance and Supplication for All Saints Unto which is Added A Direction for the Attaining the Gift of Prayer That Family-Duty may not be Omitted nor Secret Duty discouraged through Inability of Utterance and Expression BY Nathanael Vincent M. A. Minister of the Gospel London Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel and at the Bible on London-Bridge near the Gate 1674. To the Truly HONOURABLE LADY Hester LADY BLOVNT Mercy and Grace and Peace be Multiplyed Much Honoured Madam WHen I had the happiness to belong unto your Noble Family the Favours I received were Weighty ones and have left too deep an impression upon me ever to be worn off I never lived more free from Care Trouble then when I lived with your Ladyship Your Civility your Bounty your being so much concerned when I went away I must Remember while I have Memory 'T is very pleasing to me to reflect upon the Opportunities I had when I lived at Tittenhanger your Stately House not only of studying but of performing those Secret duties of Prayer and Meditation wherein Communion with God is so exceeding sweet that all sensual delights and pleasures are contemptible in comparison At that time the World was presented to me in the Gayest dress Your House Large and bravely Furnished your Gardens Delighful your Park and Walks hardly to be Matched your Table abundantly sumptuously Furnished Yet I must needs tell You That God was ten Thousand times more to me than all this When I sought him with my whole Heart and found him when I begg'd his Grace and had the Grace I begg'd for This This was it which made my life happy This made me Cheerful indeed onely I was sorry to see others take up and be so much transported with lower Pleasures Believe me Madam nay believe the Lord himself Religion and Joy are not inconsistent The wayes of Wisdom are wayes of Pleasantness and all the paths thereof are paths of Peace Though David had a Crown of pure Gold on his Head though he was Lord of such a Country which was then the glory of all Lands yet we find that God was his Joy and that was his Language Whom have I Heaven but Thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides Thee Whereas Solomon his son indulging his Flâ—sh and too much forgetting God did but hereby contribute to his own disquiet He made him great Works he built Houses and planted Vineyards he made Gardens and Orchards and planted Trees in them of all sorts of Fruit he made Pools of Water that the Trees might be the more Flourishing He had Servants Maidens Possessions of great and small Cattel above all that were before him in Jerusalem He gathered Silver and Gold and the peculiar Treasure of Kings and of the Provinces He had Men-singers and Women-singers and the Delights of the Sons of Men and Musical Instruments of all sorts Nay whatsoever his Eyes desired he kept not from them neither did he withold from his Heart any Joy How large an Inventory is here of what is gratifying to the Senses Yet in the midst of all he cryes out Behold all is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit and there is no Profit under the Sun Eccles 2. 4 11. Madam I earnestly desire your Eternal welfare and also your present Joy And truly there must be Godliness not in the Form only but in the Power also or else you will be a Stranger to the pleasure of Christianity God is the Souls centre Rest is elsewhere in vain expected The more you acquaint your self with Him the more perfect your peace will be thereby good will come unto you These ensuing Sermons concerning Prayer I hope through the blessing of God may be a means to make Devotion much more servent And 't is not in vain to seek Him that is so willing to be sound and whose Sufficiency is such that he can satisfie your desires when they are most Enlarged That the Lord of Heaven would bless You and all the Branches of your Illustâ—ious Family and make all eminent for Piety and Holiness which will be your truest Honour and greatest Dignity is the Prayer of Madam Your Ladiships most humble and most obliged Servant Nathanael Vincent To the Readers especially them that were Hearers of these Following Sermons Beloved Brethren BEing about to Read a Book concerning Prayer how convenient is it you should begin with Prayer that you may read with profit Lift up therefore your hearts unto God and desire Grace to do what is made known to be your duty Gods Precepts are for your profit He is not capable of being advantaged for he is infinitely and eternally self-sufficient but you your selves will be benefited by your Obedience He requires you to come to the throne of Grace that he may impart his Grace and Mercy unto you that so much stand in need of it 'T is the property of Good to be communicative of it self And the Lord who is the Summum Bonum highest and chiefest Good does give most of all liberally Prayer is an Ordinance that He has appointed and 't is a great priviledge we are allowed to pour out our Souls before him His Hand is not shortned His Ear is not heavy we shall not be straitned in Him if we are not straitned in our own Bowels You that never have pray'd with any seriousness of Spirit should cry now with the greater fervency You have not one Sin pardoned not one Corruption mortified not one saving Grace wrought in your Hearts you have not the least part of your main work don no provision at all made for Eternity and another World It concerns you therefore to begg as for your Lives that God would reconâ—cile you to himself in Christ and make you new Creatures and become a Father and a Portion to you Now is the accepted time Now the Father of Mercies is upon the mercy Seat Now the Lord Jesus is willing to be your Advocate and to intercede for you Now the spirit of Grace is ready to help our infirmities Now forgiveness of sin and life and Immortality are freely offer'd nay you are intreated to accept them But it will not be thus alwayes shortly God will be inexorable the Advocate will be a judg to condemn and the spirit will withdraw for ever and the day of grace will be ended Oh therefore pray now for then 't will be to late to pray And for you that make conscience of this duty wrestle still with greater Vigour Those are the strongest Christians that are mightiest in praier He that prayes well will do all wel besides for by
prayer strength is obtained for the performance of every Duty I have added a short treatise concerning the gift of prayer be-because many are weak and unexercised in this Duty and I have furnished them with Scripture expressions which are without controversy the best of all and by practise and diligence their ability may be increased These Sermons were beggd from Heaven I follow them with prayer that from thence they may be effectual not only to those that have desired the publishing of them but unto all others unto whose hands the providence of God shall bring them Nathanael Vincent Pray before you Read Correct these ERRATAES PAge 2. lin 31. for dart r. darts p. 9. l. 18 for vow r. voice l. 19. blot out and those things onely must be directed unto God alone p. 12. l. 22. for God ever r. Gods ear p. 18. l. 6. for in our directory r. is our directory l. 9. for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 21. l. 4. blot out and. p. 26. l. 11 for price r. prize p. 33. l. 3. for which r. that p. 37. l. 14. for or the rock r. for the rock p. 62. l. 29. for innumeration r. ennumeration p. 69. l. 19. for thee r. this p. 72. l. 25. for carnal desires r. carnal designs p. 73. l. 10. for veins r. reins p. 77. l ult for Spirti r. Spirit p. 97. l 19. for hirado r. hirudo p. 100. l. 9. for emfulness r. Sinfulness p. 122 l. 10. for is r. are p. 110. l. 7. for exalted r. excelled p. 146 for night r. nigh p. 167. l. 13. for court r. coasts Eph. 6. 18. Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and Watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints THe Apostle looking upon the Ephesians as militant Saints and fighting not against Flesh and Blood but against the Principalities and Powers of Darkness he instructs them towards the latter end of this Chapter how they might become more than Conquerors To this end he tells them first of all where their strength lay they must be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might v. 10. and then gives them a compleat Armour which being put on and the several pieces of it skilfully used the wiles of Satan will be frustrated and themselves enabled to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand 1. They must be girded about with the girdle of Truth By Errour Satan has great advantage how many like Children are tossed too and fro by every wind of Doctrin but a judgment rightly informed and well settled that buys the Truth and will by no means sell it has a great influence unto a Christians stedfastness and growth in Grace 2. They must have on the Breast-plate of Righteousness they must be Righteous in heart Righteous in sincerity A Conscience purged from dead works is a better defence than a wall of Brass Satan cannot so easily disquiet them that are sincere neither is he able to corrupt them their holiness being true sin is hated the allurements unto sin are contemned and God is followed hard after 3. Their Feet must be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace They must be encouraged by that Peace which the Gospel publishes to run the way of Gods Commandments and that though those ways are never so difficult and unpleasant to flesh and blood they must hold fast the profession of their Faith and depart from Evil and go in the path that is called holy though by thus doing they never so much expose and make themselves a prey 4. Above all they must take the Shield of Faith whereby they may quench the fiery dart of the Wicked Satans Temptations are Darts he does design our wounding our pain our death in shooting of them And these Darts may well be called fiery they are shot from Hell and an Hell in the Conscience they make if they are not quenched but Faith is a shield to repel and beat them back Faith makes application of the Righteousness and strength of Christ and by this means not only former wounds are asswaged and healed but the soul is more secured for the future 5. The Helmet of Salvation must cover their heads in this day of Battel with evil Angels A lively hope of salvation is very encouraging both unto patient continuance in well-doing and also unto suffering for the sake of Righteousness 6. The Apostle tells them that the Sword of the spirit which is the Word of God must be made use of If this word be understood believed thought on loved stood in awe of if it thus abide in us we shall be strong and overcome the evil one These are the pieces of the Armour of God But in this Combate with the Devil is there not need of Auxilary forces certainly there is a necessity of succour from Heaven The Captain therefore of our Salvation must be looked unto and divine aide continually implored and begged for By prayer we have power with God and power against our spiritual Enemies No wonder that the Apostle enjoyns Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit c. The Text may be divided into these parts 1. Here is a Duty commanded in the performance of which lies safety and that is Praying 2. The extent of this Duty it must be always and it must be with all Prayer 3. The due qualifications of this Duty which are these following 1. It must be in the Spirit 2. It must be with Watching 3. It must be with all perseverance 4. It must be with a publick spirit we must pray for all Saints as well as for our selves since they are engaged in the same War That these words may be the better understood I shall answer these several questions 1. Is there any difference between Prayer and Supplication I answer The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is translated Prayer does intimate we have to do with God in Prayer to him we are to direct our Petitions as an Hearer as an Helper The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is translated Supplication does intimate that there must be an acknowledgment of our own indigency and wants and a looking to the Alsufficient Lord for supply 2. Another question is this What is meant by Praying always I answer the Greek phrase which the Holy Ghost useth is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies To pray every opportunity that is offered This Text does give no encouragement unto the fond Sect of the Euchites who thought that prayer was to be their whole business No no there are other Duties which God calls for and which this of Prayer must not justle out But all those opportunities which are afforded for Prayer must be heedfully observed joyfully laid hold on and diligently improved This is to pray always It s said of Mephibosheth that he did eat always or continually at the Kings Table 2 Sam. ◠13. What shall we from hence infer
that he spent day and night in nothing but eating no such matter but when the season or meal-time came he was present So to pray always is to pray whenever prayer is seasonable 3. A third question is What is meant by all Prayer Bullinger refers this to the intension of the mind saying that in this Duty there must be all possible devotion and intentness and servency of heart But Musculus understands Prayer of every sort and indeed all kinds of Prayer which God has appointed are needfull and the Lord is ready by the Communications of his Grace to encourage to the practice of this Duty in the full extent and latitude of it 4. Anotherquestion is this What are we to understand by prayer in the spirit Some refer this clause to the things asked as if we should slight all worldly enjoyments and ask only for those blessings that are spiritual 'T is confessed that spiritual blessings are to be most prized and to be begged with the greatest importunity but yet temporal mercies may also with submission be desired Daily Bread we are allowed to ask for and that Bread is sweetest and most blest that is the fruit of Prayer Others observe and rightly that this passage Praying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Spirit may have relation both to the spirit of God and the spirit of him that prays 1. It may have relation unto the Spirit of God The Holy Ghost makes intercession for Believers according to the will of God he helps their infirmities who of themselves know not what to pray for as they ought Rom. 8. 26 27. 2. It may have relation unto the spirit of him that prays Prayer must be the off-spring of the heart or else 't will In Religione non sit quod cor non facit not be of any value or efficacy The spirit of a man must understand what and the worth of what is prayed for and the affections must be stirred in order to the attainment of it 5. A fifth question is what are we to understand by watching unto prayer with all perseverance We must watch over our hearts and watch for God and this must be with continuance unless we continue to watch and pray we may quickly enter and fall into temptation And since all militant Saints are in danger as well as we and stand in so near a relation to Christ and to us we should be much concerned for them so as to desire their safety and well-fare as our own There are six Doctrins which these words afford us 1. A Christians security lyes very much in praying always 2. All prayer is of concernment to be used 3. Prayer when rightly performed is supplication in the spirit 4. In prayer Watching is a necessary ingredient 5. We must persevere if we would speed in prayer 6. Our spirits must be so publick as to supplicate for all the Saints as well as for oâ—r selves D. 1. I begin with the first of these Doctrines That a Christians security lies very much in praying always Although he be Armed from head to foot with the Armour of God which if any in the world is Armour of Proof yet he is not safe without prayer Saints in Scripture have lookt upon the Throne of Grace as their Asylum and Sanctuary and have come hither for refuge and strength in their troubles and temptations David when he perceived the deceit and hatred of his Adversaries who fought against him without cause says 't was his course and truly 't was a wise one to give himself to prayer Psal 109. 4. When his soul was among Lyons and he dwelt among those that were set on fire he then crys unto God most high unto God that performed all things for him Psal 57. 2. When the Apostle Paul was buffeted by the Messenger of Satan he besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from him and had this answer my grace is sufficient for thee 2 Cor. 12. 7 8 9. Nay the very Captain of our Salvation Christ himself not only used the word of God in temptation and overcome the Devil by Scripture-weapons but also he was wonderfully servent in prayer Heb. 5. 7. In the days of his flesh he offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared I shall speak unto this Doctrin in this following order First give you a definition of prayer that you may know what ' t is Secondly Inform you what it is to pray always Thirdly Shew you why a Christians security lies in prayer Fourthly Give you some reasons why he should be always praying Fifthly Answer some Objections that are made against this Duty Lastly Make Application In the first place I am to give you a definition of prayer that you may understand the nature of it Damascen l. 3. de orth Fid. c. 24. give this description 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prayer is an assention of the mind unto God and asking those things which are convenient from him The mind must ascend as well as the voâ—â—â— and both must be directed unto God alone and those things only must be directed unto God alone and those things only must be desired which the wise and gracious God sees Oratio est actus rationis practicae voluntatis desiderium explicantis ab a liis aliquid postulantis Aquin in 2. 2. qu. 83. art 1. convenient Aquinus defines prayer an act of the practical understanding explaining the desire of the will and requesting something from another which being applied unto God amounts to thus much that both the mind and will do act in prayer the mind makes known what the will desires Psal 38. 9. Lord all my desire is before thoe and my groaning is not hid from thee and then likewise there is an earnest craving to have this desire satisfied Psal 90. 14. Oh satisfie us early with thy mercy that we may rejoyce and be glad all our days But a more full definition of prayer is this Prayer is a Duty performed unto God by sensible and believing Souls in which they ask for things according to his will in the name of Christ with thanksgiving for what already has been received This definition I shall take in pieces and explain the parts of it 1. Prayer is a Duty 't is part of that homage and worship which we owe to God this is evident by the light of nature the Heathen Marriners cryed unto the Lord for preservation in a Storm Jon. 1. but 't is more evident by Scripture light commands to pray are frequent And he that does restrain prayer casts off the fear of God and says unto the Almighty Depart from me Job 21. 14 15. Prayer is a Duty for we are obliged to it by a precept and that precept is for our profit we need help from Heaven and our wants that are of greatest concernment to be supplied can be supplyed by none
Rock and the high God their Redeemer but as soon as the Lord ceased smiting they ceased crying they flattered with their Tongues and were unstedfast in his Covenant Psal 78. 34 37. This is the way to have affliction quickly return again and that with more of Gall and Wormwood or to have spiritual Judgments which are a great deal worse succeed temporal 2. Reproof belongs to them that pray for a little while while the Conviction is fresh and strong and the exhortation to this duty is still sounding in their ears but by degrees the Conviction wears off and the Exhortation is forgotten and then oh how do their hearts depart from God and what a task and tedious thing is Prayer to them But those foregoing convictions will very much aggravate their after omissions these omissions being given way to especially at first with such violence offer'd to their own consciences and resisting of the Holy Ghost who strives to make them persevere in Supplication 3. Reproof belongs to Apostates that somewhile made a great Profession none more forward to Pray than they but now they have thrown off this and other Ordinances of Christ being carried away either by a prophane or by an erroneous spirit 1. Many are carried away by a prophane spirit and having restrained Prayer even restraining Grace is taken from them they run out to all excess of Riot they are abominably vitious intemperate unclean unrighteous they declare to all that seven unclean spirits are entered into them and that their last end is likely to prove worse than their beginning They once indeed did know the Holy Commandment but are now turned from it and 't is happen'd to them according to the Proverb The Dog is turned to his own Vomit again and the Sow that was washed to to her wallowing in the Mire 2 Pet. 2. 21 22. 2. Many are carried away from Prayer by an Erronâ—ous spirit These not onely break the Lords Commands but perswade themselves they do well in it and endeavour to draw others to the like Transgression and hereby their guilt and danger is the greater Every one that speaks against Prayer or any other Ordinance of Christ as he strikes at Christs Authority who is King of the Church so he is deceived and made use of by the Devil to injure Souls by drawing them away from God and their Duty But it may be Objected that the Apostle himself sayes Col. 2. 20. Why are ye subject to Ordinances I answer the 21 ver following shews what Ordinances the Apostle speaks of namely the Ceremonial Ordinances Touch not Taste not Handle not he is not to be interpreted concerning the Ordinances of Christs Institution for in this very Epistle he does command that the Word of Christ should dwell richly in them Col. 3. 16. and that they should Sing â—salms with Grace in their Hearts to the Lord and that they should continue in Prayer Col. 4. 2. 4. Reproof belongs to them that limit God and conclude if they are not heard presently that they shall never be answered and so in effect say why should we seek the Lord any longer Vile and sinful creatures should not be so quick with God What if we tarry some time before we have the grace and comfort we beg If it comes at last is not the Lord gracious to a wonder Besides the Lord knows when 't is fittest to answer Prayer therefore it becomes us patiently to wait for his rightly timeing of his benefits is not the smallest part of them Use 2. of Direction how you may persevere in Prayer 1. Be exceeding jealous and afraid whenever you find deadness and formallity seizing upon you You know not whether it may grow The prognostick signs of an approching distemper easily perswade you to take preventing Physick Oh when you find your hearts out of order fear and go to your Physician to heal your hearts and reduce them to the right praying frame 2. Take heed of quenching the Spirit let your Ears be open to hear what he sayes to the Churches Rev. 2. ult Deliver up your selves wholly unto the Spirits conduct and guidance be lead by him from what wayes and in what wayes he pleases else he will be grieved and withdraw and if he does so alas your helper will be gon and your infirmities will hinder your perseverance in Prayer 3. Be sensible that all your prayers will be lost if now you should totally and finally give over that righteousness will be reckoned as none at all that is but like the morning Cloud and as the early dew vanishes away pray on therefore that all may not be in vain 4. Labour to be acquainted with the sweetness of prayer that you may have experience of those quickenings those enlargements those supports those ravishing delights that the Saints have found sometimes in prayer and then you will like the duty so well that you will not easily be drawn off from it 5. Depend upon Him that gives power to the faint and increases strength in them that have no might Isa 40. 29. He faints not neither is he weary and he alone can keep you from being weary in wel-doing As he only can help you when you cry so he alone can help you to hold on in crying 6. Cheer up your selves with this consideration that if you persâ—vere in prayer but a little while longer in Heaven all your prayers will be fully answered Remember that if prayer lasts as long as time lasts time will quickly be succeeded by Eternity and prayer will end in everlasting praises So much for the fifth Doctrine That prayer must be with all perseverance D. 6. The sixt and last Doctrin is this Our spirits must be so publick as to supplicate for all Saints as well as for our selves therefore the Apostle adds in the Text and supplication for all Saints Here I shall first shew what Saints the Apostle speaks of and secondly why we should pray for them all and then give you the Uses First What Saints the Apostle speaks of The Saints are of two sorts Triumphant in Heaven Militant on Earth 1. Triumphant in Heaven and these do not need our prayers We need not pray that they may be eased of their loads for their burthens are removed and they are entred into perfect rest we need not pray that God would manifest himself to them for they see him as he is and not as here in a glass darkly nor that they may be freed from sorrow and defended from Enemies for their joy is full all tears are wiped away and they are past all danger They are made Pillars in the Heavenly Temple and they shall go no more out Rev. 3. 12 In all the Bible we find not one Petition for departed Saints They are with the Lamb Crown'd above and are above our supplications 2. Militant Saints on Earth and of these the Text speaks and to these the words are to be confined and truly all of them claim a
share in our supplications 1. We are to pray for Saints of all Nations Prayer may reach them though never so far and the God we pray to is acquainted with every Saint in particular throughout the Universe knows what they all want and how to supply all their needs 2. We are to pray for Saints of all Perswasions as long as they hold the head and are dear to Christ notwithstanding their difference from us in opinion Surely notwithstanding this difference they should be upon our hearts to desire their good Oh that there were less quarrelling and disputation and more praying and supplication one for another and this would be a great means to unite and to heal breaches 3. We are to pray for Saints of all Conditions high and low rich and poor bond and free Male and Female Every Saint is a Jewel and a Jewel is not to be contemned though it lye upon a Dung-hill The meanest Saints are precious in the Lords eyes and we should have regard to them 4. We are to pray for Saints that are to be as well as those that are already The Jewish Church prayed for that of the Gentiles before it was gathered for their little Sister that had no Breasts Cant. 8. 8. The reason why our supplications should be for all Saints are these 1. Because of their relation to God They are all his Children and he has the love of a Father to them nay he is a thousand times more full of affection than earthly Parents can be If God love them we should and shew our love by our wishing their good especially considering how much the honour of God is concerned in them and how much his Name is glorified in their preservation 2. Because of their Relation to our Lord Jesus Should not we pray for them since Christ died for them He bought them with the price of his own blood Act. 20. 28. 1 Cor. 6. ult and they are all Espoused to him nay they are his Members those for whom he ever lives to make intercession surely then we also should intercede in their behalf 3. We should pray for all Saints because of our Relation one to another We are all begotten by the same Seed we are all begotten by the same Seed we are all Members one of another Rom. 12. 5. So we being many are one Body in Christ and every one Members one of another We are all animated by the same Spirit one of whose principal fruits is Love and Love should be expressed in prayer finally we are all Heirs to the same Inheritance Oh how importunate should we be that we may come all safely thither 4. We should pray for all Saints because all are engaged in the same War and are wrestling with the same Enemies We should beg therefore that all may be kept from the evil of the world that Satan may be trod under the feet of all that sin may be subdued in all and that all may at last be made more than Conquerours 5. All Saints are carrying on the same design the glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom and Interest of Christ we should help one another by prayer that this great end may be attained Use 1. Of Consolation Saints have more prayers going for them than they are aware of Those that you never saw nor shall see in this world are concerned for you and are desiring that you may have that grace and strength which you need considering the difficulty of your work and your many Adversaries As every one should pray for all so all are praying for every one and this is matter of great encouragement Use 2. of Reproof to those that are of a private spirit who are all for themselves but Zion they look not after These have neither love to Christ nor to their own Souls upon a right score If they loved the Head they would be sollicitous for the welfare of the Body and if they truly desired the good of their own Souls they would have pitty to other Souls that are of equal value Use 3. Of Exhortation Be more frequent and fervent in praying for all the Saints This will be a great Argument that you are indeed Members of the Body of Christ when all your fellow-members are loved when you feel their sorrows and are concerned for their wel-fare 1. Pray for the Saints Vnity that they may be knit together in love their Beauty lies much in their Agreement and their strength in their being United But if a House or Kingdom be divided Division has a tendency to Destruction Christ prayed that his Disciples might be One as that which would serve very much to convince the world that God had sent him Joh. 17. 23. for the divisions of Saints is not the least cause of prevailing Infidelity and of mens questioning the very truth of Christianity 2. Pray for the Saints purity that the Church may be more and more cleansed and conformed to the holy Doctrin of the Gospel and like her holy Head the Lord Jesus 3. Pray for the Saints prosperity especially for those glorious and peaceable times after Antichrists ruine the calling home of the Jews when the Kingdoms of the world shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ 4. Pray for the Saints increase and in thus doing you are kind unto the world Beg that the Prince of darkness may lose and that Christ may gain more and more Subjects every day and that out of the quarry of mankind more may be taken which may be made lively Stones in the Lords Temple 5. Pray for the Saints support under all Oppressions for their perseverance to the end and that the Lord Jesus would hasten his second appearing when all his Church shall be Triumphant when Devils and the Reprobate world shall be confined to Hell and all the Elect shall joyn together in shouting forth Hallelujahs unto him that sits upon the Throne and to the Lamb for ever Thus have I finished this Argument of Prayer What are now your resolutions Shall there be prayerless Families still and any Strangers unto secret duty notwithstanding all that has been spoken May Pardon and Grace and Life and Salvation be all obtained for asking and will you not do thus much will you neither be earnest for others nor your own selves Shall none of the directions that have been given be followed Shall all the Arguments that have been used be unsuccessful Oh thou that commandest and hearest prayer O thou that helpest thy people to pray pour out the spirit of Grace and Supplication That thy Throne of Grace may be surrounded with Suppliants that there may be a great flocking to thy Mercy-seat and grace may be imparted abundantly to thy own glory through Jesus Christ the great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens and is at thy right hand for ever Amen and Amen Prayer OF what an easie quick access My blessed Lord art thou how suddenly May our requests thine eare
in prayer they are commanded by the Lords Enemies Sin the world and Satan do detain them The second sort of Reasons are why we must pray by the help of the Spirit of God His assistance is necessary 1. Because of our darkness we of our selves know not God nor his Will nor our own greatest Needs nor wherein lyes our great interest and truest happiness 2. Because of our deadness active we are as to sin but unto prayer indisposed the dead man must be lifted and carried for of himself he cannot stir We that naturally are without strength nay without life cannot lift up our souls to God unless the spirit lift them up to him 3. Because of the opposition that is made by the evil one When we come to the Mercy-seat the Devil makes nothing of taking the right hand of us he is ready to resist us as he did Joshua the high Priest Zach 3. 1. and we are not able to withstand him unless the Spirit of God who is infinitely stronger rebuke him for us 4. The Spirits assistance is necessary in prayer because of that natural aversness iâ— our own hearts unto what is good whereas we should hate the evil and love the good we hate the good and love the evil nay in the very best there is a law in the members which wars against the law of the mind and evil is present If the Spirit were not also mightily and graciously present there would be an utter inability as to prayer or any duty which God requires In the third place I am to answer some Cases of Conscience concerning the Spirit of Prayer 1. Whether all Believers have the Spirit of Prayer I answer that all true Believers have this Spirit For the spirit of Grace which all Saints have received is also a spirit of supplication Zech. 12. 10. and the Apostle expresly sayes if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his 2. Whether only Believers have the spirit of Prayer I answer The spirit of prayer is peculiar to Believers for where the holy Ghost does help the heart to pray he cleanses the heart from what before defiled it and turns the heart and the desires of it towards God so that that 's now the Language Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none on Earth that I desire besides thee 3. Whether the Spirit of Prayer may not be lost I answer that the Spirit may be grieved by our corruptions when they prevail and when we grovv slothful and heedless hovv vve enter into Temptation and being grieed may withdraw his quickning and assisting influences But the Spirit is never quite lost by those that have been truly renewed by him He abides for ever where he has conseccrated any to be his Temple Joh. 14. 16. David after his fall says Restore unto me the joy of thy Salvation to shew that his joy was lost but he prayes Take not thy holy Spirit from me to signifie that the Spirit was not quite departed though that departure was deserved and feared 4. May not persons excel in the gift of prayer that yet are void of the Spirit I answer in the affirmitive The gift of prayer may only serve to puff up professours with Pride how are such pleased in reflecting upon the repute they have gained by their enlargedness in expression And this pride is not checked is not abhorred The words of prayer may be used and a carnal worldly designe carried on Hypocrites aime at an eminency in gifts that they may pass for godly and under the cloak of Religion cover their wickedness and in their most enlarged supplications they aime at their own profit fame and are prodigiously destitute of the fear of God 'T is certain the gift of Prayer may be in the unsound hearted for even the gift of Prophesie which the Apostle prefers before other gifts we find in wicked men Mat. 7. 22 23. many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name Then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye workers of iniquity 5. May not some that have the Spirit of Prayer be very weak in the gift of utterance I answer yes There was much of the spirit of prayer in Hezekiah when he chattered like a Crane or Swallow and mourned like a Dove Esa 38. 14. The Lord regards not so much the expression as affection and the heart may be sincere in its desires when not onely because of the strength of those desires but also through confusion there wants utterance Let not those therefore that are but weak in expression be discouraged for the heart may highly value Mercy and Grace and obtain both when prayer is but lisped and stammered forth by the Tongue Now follows the Application And Use 1. is of reproof which belongs 1. To them who pray indeed but their Hearts and Spirits pray not with them They put the Lord off with the bended knees the stretched forth hands the lifted up eyes the labour of the lips the fruit of their invention but all this while their hearts are not with him and their affections run a whoring after their vanities and iniquities The prayers of such dissemblers are dead prayers and truly are to be numbred among their dead works and their prayers being not minded by themselves how should God have regard to them unless it be to hate and punish them 2. They are to be reproved who make light of the Spirit of God and of his assistance in this duty of prayer They account the aid of the holy Ghost a needless a notional and imaginary thing Such never knew what 't is to wrestle with God what 't is to sigh and groan and be as it were in Travel till the blessings beg'd for are obtained Oh how impossible is it that Nature should rise thus high till the Spirit do renew and elevate it Use 2. Of Trial whether we have the Spirit of Prayer or no And this may be discerned by these following signs 1. Those that have the Spirit of Prayer by the Spirit have been convinced of sin Joh. 16. 8. he has discovered sin broken their hearts for it and 't is now become a load to them though before they loved it never so extreamly Before they hid sin now they lay it open in prayer before they excused it now they aggravate it and judg themselves worthy of Hell and Wrath because of it 2. Those that have the Spirit of Prayer are made to look unto Christ crucified Zach. 12. 10. I will pour out upon the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of supplication Then shall they look upon him whom they have peirced and mourn for him and be in bitterness as one is in bitterness for the loss of a first born Christ crucified is lookt upon by such with a weeping Eye because their sin was the cause of his sufferings and with an
because he hath heard my Voyce and my supplication because he hath inclined his ear to me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live I have shewed you what we are to watch for in prayer In the fourth place I am to shew what manner of watching is required 1. Our watch must be very strict and this strictness will be acknowledg'd reasonable if we consider that prayer is a business of weight Life or Death Blessing or Cursing will follow according as we speed well or ill in prayer VVhen we come to the Throne of Grace we entreat for no less then the forgiveness of millions of offences the least of which if unpardon'd is sufficient to expose us to eternal condemnation we entreat for no less then grace and glory we deprecate no less then the anger of the Almighty and everlasting torments Surely we should be watchfull and full of care by all means to speed in a duty of such vast concernment 2. Our watch must be continued it must be before and in and after Prayer and all little enough 1. We must watch before prayer that every thing may Dimidium facti qui coepit habit Hot at be avoided and removed that may hinder the heart from preparing to have to do with God 't is not easie to enter rightly upon this duty 2. We must Watch in prayer Prayer is expressed in Scripture by the Metaphor of wrestling If the Wrestler watch not he prevails not but is easily foyld If we are not very vigilant all the while we are praying God whom we wrestle with will withdraw and we shall miss of the blessing and Satan that wrestles against us will presently fling us 3. We must watch after prayer We must trace our hearts and mark how they have behaved themselves we must observe and bemoan our failings and be thankful for assisting grace we must be the same upon our Leggs that we were upon our Knees and live according to our prayers In the fifth place follow the reasons why Watching is so necessary in prayer 1. God watches how this duty is performed and has denounced a Curse on those that do the work of the Lord negligently He narrowly observes where the thoughts are and how much of the heart and affection is in every prayer Hark to the Apostle Heb. 4. 13. Neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things even the thoughts and intents of the heart where of he had spoken in the verse fore-going are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do 2. Satan Watches in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isider Pelus l 2. Epist 24. a time of War there is the stricter watch Now our life is a warfare therefore we should be ever vigilant 1 Pet. 5. 8. Our Adversary the Devil goes about endeavouring to do all the mischief and to hinder all the good he can possibly Satan is very busie about us in prayer and if our unwatchfulness gives him but the least encouragement and advantage he presently spyes and takes it 3. Vnless we watch our hearts will deal treacherously they will start aside from God like deceitful Bows and the Arrow of Prayer will be far from hitting the mark but our Supplications will degenerate into meer formality whereas if we are intent and serious and do hoc agere mind our business while we are at prayer we shall undoubtedly make something of it I come at last to the Application Use 1. is of Reproof Two sorts of persons deserve and highly need as well as deserve a reprehension 1. The careless Hypocrite is to be Reproved The Scripture which has this preheminence above all other Laws that it binds the very Heart and Conscience does speak very terribly against Hypocrisy which is the hearts dissimulation and going away from God even when the external part of devotion is yeilded to him The folly of the praying Hypocrite will appear in these things 1. His Conscience is fast asleep in prayer and lets him even do what he pleases but this sleeping Lyon will at length awake at farthest Hell will awaken his Conscience and then 't will bitterly reproach him and never cease reproaching 2. The Hypocrite regards not the God he is praying to he is not awed by the Lords Majesty nor affected with his Mercy neither is he afraid of provoking him to jealousy but presumes upon God as if he were altogether such an one as himself Psal 50. 21 22. These things hast thou done and I kept silence and thou thoughtest I was altogether such an one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine eyes Now consider this ye that forget God lest I tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver 3. The Hypocrite regards not the things he is praying for nor himself that is concerned in prayer He is not Animus cujusque est quisque concerned for his soul which is most truly himself and though he prays for the favour of God for the Kingdom of God and deliverance from everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels yet he is so cold and heedless as if he were indifferent whether Heaven or Hell were his eternal abode 2. The drowsie and declining Saints are also to be reproved These having been once so thorowly awakened are more without Apology if they grow again unwatchful 1. The prayers of unwatchful Saints have very bad mixtures Oh the forgetfulness and fearlesness and weariness and mocking of the Lord that Believers under their declinings are to be charged with How neer do they come to the borders of unregeneracy how like are they to the unsound-hearted 2. The prayers of unwatchful Saints are very unprofitable Children they are but alas they improve not their Relation nor make serious application to their Father The Spirit is in them but they accept not of his strength and grace Prayer is not totally laid aside but little comes on 't because they do not vigorously engage in it 3. The prayers of unwatchful Saints are uncomfortable The Spirit is grieved by their carelesness and how can it be expected he should be a comforter to them Conscience is dis-satisfied and is continually grudging because they do not stir up themselves to lay hold on God when they call upon him Isa 64. 7. Much fear much bondage many secret gripes of spirit follow upon careless praying 4. The prayers of unwatchful Saints are so offensive that they may justly fear some stroke from God some smarting Rod to awaken the spirit of prayer in them Hos 5. 14. I will be unto Ephraim as a Lyon and as a young Lyon to the House of Judah I even I will tear and go away I will take away and none shall rescue him Now what was the reason of this severity it follows v. 15. In their affliction they will seek me early He thrust the Spur into their side and made them bleed to
but by him that is Alsufficient and when we cry to him we give him glory for it argues we believe his power and mercy which prove him able and ready to succour and relieve us 2. Prayer is to be performed unto God and to him only Mat. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Unto Thee my God and my King will I pray says David Psal 5. 2. and v. 3. I will direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up Gods Hand is not shortned that it cannot save neither is his Ear heavy that it cannot hear He is able to do not onely to the uttermost of our desires but exceeding abundantly above all that we can either ask or think Eph. 3. 20. The Papists dangerously corrupt holy worship by their sinful prayers to Angels and Saints and especially to the Virgin Mary Cardinal Bonaventure has blotted out the name of Lord in the Book of the Psalms and put in the name of Lady and teacheth Christians to ask the same things of the Virgin Mary which David asked for at the hands of God himself Under the old Testament we find that Believers directed their supplications to God himself and found him ready to hear and save and under the Gospel where the manifestation and communication of his Grace are more full and plenteous is there need to go to any other No no One God can supply our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus Psal 4. 19. 3. Those that pray must be sensible Ignorance and unbelief and hardness of heart make the words of prayer a Mockery and Abomination They that pray therefore must be sensible of their sins of their needs of their unworthiness to have those needs supplyed finally they must be sensible that none can help them but the God they are praying to 1. They must be sensible of their sins I acknowledge my Iniquities says David and my sin is ever before me Psal 51. 3. so Esa 59. 12. For our Transgressions are multiplyed before thee and our sins testifie against us for our transgressions are with us and as for our Iniquities we know them Sin must be acknowledged with shame and sorrow else 't will separate between God and us and prove a Cloud through which our prayers will never pass There must be such a sense of sin as implies an hatred and weariness of it for if the heart out of love and liking of it has a regard to sin God ever will be deaf and his mercies restrained Psal 66. 18. If I regard Iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear my prayer 2. They that pray must be Sensible of their needs All the posterity of Adam are needy how rich and full soever they conceit themselves The first man being a publick person had the whole stock in his own hand and having lost it has beggard his whole Progeny we are all come shore of the glory of God as descended from Adam we are flesh and in our Flesh dwelleth no good thing This must be understood and believed poverty of Spirit Christ commends and pronounces those that are thus Poor Blessed Mat. 5. 3. For they that perceive they are Wretched and Miserable and Empty and Naked will cry the louder to the Lord for gold try'd in the fire to enrich them and white raiment that they may be cloathed The poor man that is ready to starve for hunger how does he cry out Bread for the Lords sake Bread for he sees his need of it The condemn'd Malefactor how does he roar out for a Pardon because he sees his life must quickly go without it And were we but better acquainted with our wants Oh what strong crys would come from us that Sin might be forgiven that Grace might be wrought that Peace might be Spoken that Spiritual Maladies might be healed We all need these things as much and more then the hungry stand in need of Bread 3. They that pray must be sensible of their unworthiness to have their need supplyed Paul crys out he was less than the least of all Saints and Jacob that he was less than the least of mercies Job says Behold I am vile and I abhor my self We cannot lay claim to any thing as our due but Wrath and the Curse What-ever God bestows it must be reckoned given not of debt but of pure and free Grace Rom. 4. Daniel in prayer disclaims all merit in his Righteousness acknowledges that Confusion of face belonged to him and to Israel because of their Rebellions and says expresly we do not present our supplications to thee for our Righteousness but for thy great mercies Dan. 9. 18. We may beg indeed for the greatest mercles and the greater the surer we are to speed for God is most liberal of the greatest but at the same time must be sensible that the least mercy is too good for such evil ones as we are 4. They that pray must be sensible that none can help them but the God they are praying to Jer. 3. 23. Truly in vain is Salvation hoped for from the Hills and multitude of Mountains the firmest things on Earth will fail and deceive our hopes Truly in the Lord our God is the Salvation of Israel Therefore David lays this charge upon his Soul to wait only upon God and to have all its expectation from him God will be seriously sought unto when we are under the power of this Conviction that no other helper can be found 4. It followes in the definition that those that pray must be believing Souls Faith is a Grace that is required in all their Duties if this be wanting God will not be honoured by our Duties nor our selves advantaged Though we hear never so often If the Word be not mixed with Faith it will not profit us Heb. 4. 2. and unless our Prayers are Prayers in Faith they will not be effectuall Those that pray indeed must be Believers 1. They must believe that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. they must have right apprehensions of his gracious Nature and of his good Will towards men He is willing to be reconciled and has himself without being sought unto contrived a way how Sinners Peace may be made He sends Embassadours to them to treat about it And intreats those that have offended him that they would be no longer enemies by wicked Works He has declared that fury is not in him towards those that are desirous of Mercy and that he does delight in nothing more than in Compassion and that if any do understand and seek him he is more willing to be found than they can be eager to find him These things being rightly conceived encourage Prayer and Satan by suggesting the clean contrary staves off many from this Duty 2. They that pray aright must by believing be interested in Christ the Mediatour Christ is the Way and no man commeth unto the
within you blesse the Lord upon every manifestation of his goodness as well as desire blessings from him And thus have I gon over the parts and kinds of Prayer much work indeed I have told you of but the more work the better for the more grace is to be expected in order unto the performing of what is required I shall conclude with a very brief Application in two words 1. How sharply are they to be reproved that instead of praying with all prayer use no prayer but live in the almost total neglect of this duty 2. Be perswaded to pray with all Prayer All prayer that God has appointed he is ready to hear in all prayer the name of Christ may be used and the promises of God which are sure exceeding great and precious may be pleaded and how glad may we be that the Lord has appointed so many successful wayes of seeking him wherein he has consulted the variety of our conditions and necessitys So much for the second Doctrine That all Prayer is to be used D. 3. Prayer when rightly performed is Supplication in the Spirit Indeed all our worship of God who is a Spirit must be in Spirit and in truth Joh. 4. 24. else 't is in truth no worship As the body without the Spirit is dead so dutys without Spirit are dead also In the handling of this point I shall first open to you what 't is to pray in the Spirit Secondly Lay down the reasons of the Doctrine Thirdly Answer some cases of conscience about praying in the Spirit Lastly make application First What 't is to pray in Spirit This as I have already intimated refers both to the Spirit of him that prays and also to the Spirit of God who helps to pray 1. This praying in the Spirti refers unto the spirit of him that prays and several things are here included 1. To pray with our spirit implies to pray with understanding I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with understanding also 1 Cor. 14. 15. we must not only understand the words that are spoken but also and that principally the worth of those things which we Petition for we must likewise in some measure be acquainted with the All-sufficiency and Faithfulness of that God whom we pray to and with our own indigency that are the Petitioners The Athenians had an Altar dedicated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the unknown God Act. 17. 23. and they are said ignorantly to worship him and truly all their worship degenerated into superstition We must know the Lord and our selves what his promises and our own Needs are else prayer will be of no account 2. To pray with our spirit implies to pray with judgment discerning between things that differ There is as vast a difference between Sin and Holiness as there is between Deformity and Beauty There is as vast a difference between the Creature and the Creator as there is between the broken Cistern that can hold no water and the Fountain of living waters Jer. 2. 12 13. Be astonished O ye Heavens at this be horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord for my people have committed two evils they have forsaken me the Fountain of living waters and hewed them out Cisterns broken Cisterns that can hold no water There is as vast a difference between a state of Grace and a state of Wrath as there is between Heaven and Hell Now he that prays must be apprehensive of all this and a believing apprehension of it will make him earnest for the loving kindness of the Lord and that he may taste more and more of the Fountain of living waters and be cleansed from all defilements 3. To pray with our spirits implies to pray with intention of mind Abraham drove away the fowls that did light upon his Sacrifice Gen. 15. and so should we drive away the impertinent and sinful and troublesome thoughts that arise or are injected into our hearts when we engage in sprayer Our hearts cannot wander in the least but they are espied by him whose name is jealous We should therefore desire that the Lord himself who holds the wind in his Fists would seize upon our more unruly hearts and keep them close to himself in duty especially considering there are some kind of distractions that nullifie and make void prayer distractions that are not regarded not lamented not watched or striven against 4. To pray with our spirits implies to pray with spiritual affections The affections are the wings of the Soul and the Soul is carried either to or from any thing according as the affections are inclined The Apostle exhorting to seck the things that are above presently adds set your affection on things above Col. 3. 1 2. intimating we shall never seek the things above in good earnest unless our affections be placed on them Those affections that have evil for their object must spend their strength upon sin which is the worst of all evils Sin must be hated most perfectly sin must cause the deepest sorrow sin must be most feared and against sin the heart should rise with the greatest indignation Those affections that have good for their object as love desire and the like should run with a full stream towards God and those great things that are brought to light by the Gospel and promised in the covenant of grace The stronger and more spiritual our affections are in prayer the better success will follow 2 Chron. 15. 15. 'T is said of Judah that they sought the Lord with their whole desire and he was found of them 2. This praying in the spirit refers to the Spirit of God who helps to pray The Apostle Jude exhorts to build up our selves on our most holy Faith and to pray in the Holy Ghost Jud. 20. and so to keep our selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal life Now the operation or working of the spirit of God in prayer I shall explain in these particulars 1. The Spirit of God teaches Believers for what to pray he opens their eyes to understand the Word and to know what the Will of the Lord is W know not says the Apostle what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit makâ—th intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God Rom. 8. 27. 2. The spirit removes impediments to prayer he turns that love that naturally is in the heart to sin into hatred he causes the World that was Idolized to be contemned he cures that infidelity in reference to the excellency of spiritual things that the unrenewed Soul is full of as also that enmity against God and Holiness which was in the mind all the while 't was Carnal Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3. 17. the Fetters are knockt off the Clogs removed the Soul is brought out of Prison and is made free both unto the performance of duty and free in the