Selected quad for the lemma: saint_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
saint_n	prayer_n	spirit_n	supplication_n	1,486	5	11.4562	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91898	Panoplia. Universa arma. Hieron. Or, The Christian compleatly armed: being a treatise of the Christians armour, clearly opening every part thereof, both pressing to the putting of it on, and instructing us so to use it, as we may not be soyled in time of temptation. / Delivered by that late reverend, and faithfull minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Ralph Robinson, pastor of Mary Woolnoth, London, to his congregation there, in several lectures: and now published for the further benefit of the Church of God.	Robinson, Ralph, 1614-1655.	1656 (1656)	Wing R1710; Thomason E1586_2; ESTC R208953	180,905	372

have an intention to wrastle with God in Prayer but some messenger of Satan or other is ready to wrastle with him to take him off This Text shews us the reason He knows well that the servants of God are never more successfull against his Temptations nor that he is never more defeated in his designs against them than when they set their faces to seek God He hath been so often overcome by this Holy Ordinance of God that he is afraid of it Hence it is that he is so diligent both to take them off from it and to interrupt them in it He is most afraid of a Child of God when he is on his knees This makes him so strangely attempt to break off the Exercise of it 2. This shewes us that Satan must needs prevail very much where Prayer is neglected Do not wonder to see the Devils Throne erected so high in those Families and in those Persons where Prayer and Invocation is cast aside There 's nothing in such a soul to hinder either his Residence or Domination Watch and pray saith Christ that ye enter not into Temptation Mat. 26. 41. Those that disuse Prayer must necessarily be under the power of black Temptations They have no defence to keep Satan out nor have they any way to cast him out when he is once entred 3. This lets us see the power of Holy Prayer It 's a very strong thing he that considers well what prayer hath wrought cannot imagine it to be a weak thing It hath for a time stopt the course of Nature Sun stand thou still in Gibeon and thou Moon in the Valley of Ajalon Josh 10. 12 13. It hath divided the waters of the Sea Exod. 14. 21 22. It hath quenched the burning flames Numb 11. 1 2. It hath cast Devils out of their possession The Prayer of Luther and other servants of God recovered a man out of the hands of Satan who had made an Indenture of his soul to him and sealed it with his own bloud The Indenture sealed was cast in into the place where they were praying And our Saviour tells That no Devil hath such deep possession but by Prayer and Fasting he may be cast out Matth. 17. 21. In a word Prayer hath overcome God himself Gen. 32. 26. Luther was wont to say There is a kind of Omnipotency in Prayer It never yet did it never shall through God meet with any thing too hard for it No Journey was ever too long for it no Mountain too high no Waters too deep no Burthen too heavy no Temptation too strong It never was it never shall be finally and totally overcome by any Adversary 4. That a Christians Victory over the Temptations of Satan doth not depend upon himself but upon God alone This is gathered from hence When he hath dressed himself and got his weapons into his hands he must then look to his Commander in chief and conquer by prayer He doth not overcome by fighting but by praying All his preparation all his graces all his Armour all his endeavour will not carry him through the battel with success unless God stand by him When he hath done all he can Prayer must be his last refuge that God would vanquish his enemies for him 5. This is an Apologie for the people of God who desire to be frequent in Prayer They have found the benefit of it and they still know the excellency of it It 's a piece of that Armour which they must use nay 't is upon the matter their whole Armour all the rest doth no good without it therefore are they so careful to use it They know the danger of Satans Assaults and they know if they be not frequent and fervent in Prayer they shall be overcome therefore they willingly neglect no opportunity of performing this service they know praying Christians are the safest Christians 6. That the gift and grace of Prayer is a marvellous great blessing That God hath given his Spirit to be a Spirit of Prayer in us that God hath given to his people ability to pour out their hearts by prayer with cries and groanes that cannot be expressed that Jesus Christ hath given us a Rule how to pray a pattern for Prayer This is a singular mercy that you are enabled to make use of this Ordinance of Prayer There are many that know not how to pray after a right manner If God have taught any of you how to pray you are to acknowledge it as a marvellous mercy and to bless his name 7. How much you are indebted to them that pray for you They supply you with Armour Exhortation Be intreated and perswaded in 2. Vse the Lord Jesus Christ to make use of this piece of Armour Pray alwayes with all Prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watch thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints In this Exhortation I shall do three things 1. Give you some Motives 2. Help you against the Wiles of Satan whereby he endeavours to take you off 3. Give you some helps I might give you many Motives I could tell you that it 's the way to have your wants supplyed It 's the Key of the Treasury of Gods blessings God hath appointed this as the great Channel of conveyance of all blessings Jam. 1. 5. It 's the way to have every thing sanctified to your use it makes bitter things sweet and sweet things more sweet it 's that Salt which savours every thing 1 Tim. 4. 5. It turns all afflictions into gold all poyson into physick 2 Cor. 12. 8 9. It 's the way to expell inordinate cares and fears Phil. 4. 6. He that is much in prayer will be little in Care It 's the Nurse of all graces it preserves the fear of God in their hearts Job 15. 4. It preserves the love of God It nourisheth Humility it keeps the Conscience clean and tender it preserves and maintains heavenly-mindedness c. But I shall onely urge that which is in the Text. It 's the way to have certain victory over all Temptations Satan may shatter a praying Christian but he shall never conquer him He may for a time bring him into his Net but God will rescue him and bring him out again Whensoever I call upon God saith David then shall mine enemies be put to flight Psal 56. 9. Prayer rightly managed wil carry you through an Host of Temptations These black Regiments will and must give way to the power of prayer if you continue instant in it You cannot get victory over the least Temptation without prayer and the greatest Temptation shall be subdued if you continue in this Duty Satan is as well able to overcome God as to overcome prayer which hath the strength of God in it 2. To help you against the wiles of Satan He hath many Devices to take off the Children of God from prayer viz these six things 1. God knows what I want though I do not pray I cannot by

the judgement be rotten neither the heart nor the life can be sound We finde therefore in Scripture these two joyned together faith and a good Conscience Ever when men have been corrupted in the head they have been corrupted in their lives 1 Tim. 1. 19. holding faith and a good Conscience c. he that puts away faith must put away a good Conscience whether he will or no he that makes ship-wrack of faith will soon make ship-wrack both of Conscience and Conversation 2. Ex justo Dei jud●cio It s Gods way to punish the rejection of truth with giving men up to ungodline●s of life Thus God punished the Heathen Rom. 1. 25. 26 27 28 29. where you have both the sin and the just punishment of it So 2 Thes 2. 10. 11 12. Exhortation Let all Christians be careful to keep fast about them this Girdle We have a kinde of Popish Proverb among us ungirt unblessed There is a truth in it in this sense If Satan finde you without your Girdle upon your loyns he will easily prevail with you in the day of temptation Labour therefore to get and to keep this Girdle and if you see it grow weak labour to strengthen it Let me add a few helps by way of direction and I have done 1. Avoid the company and breath of known Seducers They will either quite take away your girdle or else they will much slacken it in a very short time if you have to do with them If any man come to your house and bring not this Doctrine receive him not nor bid him God speed 2 Joh. 9. 10. They have sleight of hand they can cut your purses while they look in your faces from such turn aside 2 Tim. 3. 5. 2. Do not think meanly of such Truths as are of an inferiour Nature and more remote from the Foundation He that cuts off every day a small shred from his girdle will very soon snap it quite asunder Though every Truth be not fundamental yet every Truth is a guard to the Foundation the outer skin of an Apple lies remote from the heart yet if you pluck that off the very heart will be sooner rotten The finger is not a vital part but a Gangrene in the finger will in a short time reach to the very Vitals and corrupt the blood and spirits 3. Be much in prayer to him that keepeth both the hearts and the feet of his Saints that he would keep the Truth in you and you in the Truth Holy Father saith our Saviour keep through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me Joh. 17. 11. Let us often pray this Prayer of Christ Holy Father keep us through thy Holy Name Tie on this girdle of Truth that it may neither slip off nor be taken off The Apostle Jude puts these two together ver 20. Building up your selves in your most Holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost 4. Take heed as of all sins so especially of the sin of Pride As Heresie is the mother of pride and scornfulness so Pride is the High-way to be Heretical A proud person will soon be an erroneous person If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words c. he is proud knowing nothing c. 1 Tim. 6. 3 4. Pride will make the Heart swell so bigge that the Girdle of Truth about your Loyns wil soon be knapt asunder Humility and Watchfulness are the best Buckles for this Girdle and the way to preserve Truth but Pride and Carelesnesse is the way to lose it 5. Keep a good Conscience in all things towards God and towards Man As the falling off from the Mystery of Faith will corrupt the Conscience so a corrupt Conscience and an ungodly Life will in time destroy the Mystery of Faith There is this Reason for it The Doctrine of godliness reproves the Deeds of ungodliness and therefore whoever goes on in ungodly Practices will at last cast off the Doctrine of godliness that he may not be a Reprover to himself Keep the Grace of Truth that you may preserve the Doctrine of Truth also Thus for the first Interpretation LECT IX Decemb. 5. 1649. Ephes 6. 14. Having your Loynes girt about with Truth c. IT old you the last Lecture that Expositors LECT 9 give a two-sold Interpretation of Truth in this place Some understand it as spoken of the Doctrine of Truth Others expounding it of the Grace of Truth We have gone over the former Interpretation already as it relates to the Truth of Doctrine From which we noted That firmness and stability in the Truth of Doctrine c. We have now to consider it as relating to the Grace of Truth for so it s used in Scripture as I shewed you the last day Psal 51. 6. Josh 24. 14. Joh. 4. 24. and so it is understood in this Text by many yea the most Interpreters that I have had opportunity to inquire into Calv. vocabulo veritatis sincerum animum intelligit Piscator veritatis vocabulo intelligit conscientiae integritatem c. Taking it in this sense the Doctrine is this viz. that Integrity and truth of heart is of special use to Doct. obtain vistory over Satan in the evil day of Temptation Whosoever would overcome the Devil must have his Loyns girded about with Truth in the inward parts He that wants this girdle may struggle for a while with a Temptation and may perhaps overcome a particular temptation but he can never hold against every temptation Sooner or later he wil be brought into bondage by the Temptations of the Devil By the help of this Girdle it was that Holy Job won and kept the field and got the day of Satan in that great Conflict and Dispute he had with him And by this Girdle it was that other of Gods assaulted servants did finally overcome In the handling of this Doctrine I shall do these three things 1. I shall briefly open the Nature of this Grace 2. I shall give you the Reasons of the Doctrine 3. I shall lay down a Caution or two for the understanding of the Doctrine 1. That we may find out what is meant by this Grace of Truth I shall bring several Texts of Scripture which do explain it First Partly by way of Opposition And Secondly Partly by Exposition or Illustration 1. By way of Opposition 1. We find it opposed to Deceitfulness and Fraudulency and False-heartedness So 2 Cor. 6. 8. As Deceivers and yet true He is a man of truth that is a man without deceit Thus our Saviour speakes of Nathanael Jo. 1. 47. Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile An Israelite in truth or a true Israelite is one in whom guile and deceitfulness is not he is one that hath not two faces he will not juggle either with God or men or himself Not as if a man of truth might not sometimes fall into an act of deceitfulness Abraham had truth in the inward parts and yet

arida lectio sine meditatione infructuosa 3. The help of good Commentaries God hath afforded his people plentiful helps of this nature Turn over Interpreters that ye may see and finde out the sence of Scripture which is indeed the Scripture Non in verbi● est Evangelium sed in sensu non in superficie sed in medullâ non in verborum foliis sed in radice rationis 4. A good digestion of the publique Sermons you hear In all Sermons some places of Scripture are opened or explained These would be improved and laid up carefully 5. Care to live answerable to that measure of knowledge you have received Mat. 25. 28 To every one that hath it shall be given 6. Frequent Prayer Crying after knowledge is the way to attain unto knowledge Prov. 2. 3. 7. Frequent enquiry of others especially the Ministers of God Mal. 2. 7. The Priests lips should preserve knowledge and they shall seek the Law at his mouth The Apostles when they met with any thing they did not understand they used to come to Christ for instruction Mark 7. 17. Lord teach us this Parable we would not have you pin your faith on the Ministers sleeve but we would have you to repair to them for the untying of your knots 2. Make use of the word of God in the day of battel as the souldier doth of his sword Draw out this sword and strike down temptations by the power of it Arm your selves with it and then use it Many Christians are like some men that wear a sword but they let it rust in the scabbard through cowardice they are afraid to draw it Many Christians know well how to use the sword of the spirit but when they are assaulted they are so astonished that they make no use of it I beseech you cast off this sloathfulness and stir up your selves and when you see a temptation arise thrust this sword presently into the bowels of it and defend your selves In the word of God you have these five things that you may make much use of in the day of Assaults Precepts Prohibitions Promises Threatnings Examples if the temptation be To take you off from any known duty urge the Precept if the suggestion be to draw you into some act of sin draw out the Prohibition and wave it off with it If Satan seek either by himself or by any of his Instruments to allure you into sin by fair promises this way he sometimes takes Heb. 11. 37. they were tempted c. All this will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me then do you draw forth the promises of God and see what he hath promised to obedience Gods promises will not onely ballance but over-weigh all the Promises which Satan and his Instruments can make If Satan and his Instruments threaten then have recourse to the threatnings of God And then for the Examples in Scripture great use may be made of them The example of Job he was assaulted and God rescued him Paul he was buffeted and God delivered him Peter he was surprized and God rescued him c. If Satan should boast of his spoyls and victories as the King of Assyria did by his General to King Hezekiah Isa 37. 11 12 13. If Satan should thus boast the Examples in Scripture will help you to repell these boastings Satan thou couldest not overcome Job though God gave thee a full blow at him Thou couldest not overcome Paul though God gave thee leave to buffet him not once nor twice but often Satan cannot devise any kind of Temptation but the Word of God will put a hundred answers into your mouthes to oppose it and beat it back Thus I have dispatched the sixth piece of the Spiritual Armour The Sword of the Spirit which is The Word of God LECT XXV March 27. 1650. Ephes 6. 18. Praying alwayes with all Prayer and supplication in the spirit c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IN these words we have the last piece of the spirituall Armour which the Apostle recommends unto Christians for their safe standing and certain Victory over Satan and his Temptations viz. Prayer and Supplication Some Interpreters think this is no peece of Armour because there is no expression of any piece of materiall Armour to which it is resembled but I conceive it is a speciall piece of Armour both offensive and defensive and that the Apostle forbears perticularly to resemble it to any one piece of materiall Armour because no one piece doth sufficiently set out the excellency of it It is Armatura Armaturae hath an influence upon all the other pieces And therefore reserved to the last place as that without with all the rest are unserviceable In the whole verse we shall consider two things 1. The Armour it selfe Prayer and Supplication 2. The particular qualifications of this Duty this is expressed in these things 1. It must be constant praying alwayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to opportunity 2. We must use all kindes of prayer with all prayer 3. It must be in the spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. We must watch unto the duty 5. It must be with perseverance 6. It must be charitable Not for our selves onely but for all the Saints Though I might make many observations of these yet I shall onely give you one which is the main in which I shall have occasion to open all these particulars And it is this He that would stand in the day of Temptation and be victorious over Satan must be very careful to make use of the duty of Prayer and Supplication unto God Or thus Prayer and Supplication to God is an excellent and speciall thing to help a Christian to conquer and overcome all the Temptations of Satan and his Instruments This is the way to stand this is the way to overcome In the handling of this Doctrine I shall do these three things 1. Open briefly the nature of Prayer 2. Shew you what are the Ingredients of a conquering Prayer where I shall open those six things which I named before 3. How this duty of Prayer helps a Christian in this spiritual Warre 1. What Prayer is There are two parts of Prayer largely taken Petition Thanksgiving I shall not at this time meddle with the latter but speak onely of petitionary Prayer which is chiefly meant in this place of which I lay down this Description Prayer is a religious Invocation or calling upon the true God in the name of Jesus Christ the Mediator for the obtaining of good things necessary for soul and body and averting of evill things that God may be better glorified I do purposely omit many things in this Description which are necessary and essentiall to Prayer because they are particularly expressed in those Qualifications and Ingredients which will come to be handled in the next particular I shall briefly open this Description 1. 'T is Invocation or calling upon God so the Scripture useth to express it Zech. 13. 9. They

hoofs for hardness Thirdly Satan tempts us frequently he is every moment spreading his Net and laying his Snare to intrap the Soul he takes every opportunity to assault us ergo we should take every opportunity to defend our selves against his Assaults 1 Pet. 5. 8. Your Adversary goeth about continually seeking whom to devour Himself saith Job 1. 7. That he is continually circuiting and going up and down to destroy T is not one Arrow that will secure us against such frequent and reiterated Temptations He made three Assaults upon our Saviour in a little space of time Mat. 4. init and when he left him it was but for a season Luke 4. 13. 2. He that would overcome must use all kind of prayer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prayer is diversly distinguished In regard of the manner of performing it it is either 1. Mental or Vocal Mental prayer is when the heart onely prayeth without the voyce such was that of Moses Exod. 14. 15. Such was that of Hanna 1 Sam. 1. 13. These are mutae preces tamen clamantes Vocal Prayer is when the desires of the heart are drawn out into verbal expressions such was that of David Psal 5. 3. Psal 64. 1. 2. Either with others or else solitary with our selves alone Prayer with others is either more publike as in the Congregation or more private as in the Family Solitary prayer is when the Christian enters into his Closet retires himself from all company and then powres out his desires to God such is that our Saviour enjoyns Matth. 6. 6. Such was that of our Saviour Luke 5. 16. In regard of the matter Prayer is either for the obtaining of good things this is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Text or else it is for the diverting of evill which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now all kind of prayer must be used by him that would overcome Temptations He must pray privately and publikely mentally and vocally c. Every kind of prayer hath in it something which is more peculiarly excellent which is not so excellent in any other kind of prayer Publike prayer excels in one kind private prayer is more excellent in other respects Nehem. 2. 4. Mental prayer in some respects excels vocall in others In publike prayer there is more strength vis unita fortior In private and secret prayer there is less distraction There is in the publike more Communion with Saints There is in the private often more Communion with God less interruption incumbrance c. Satan useth all kind of Temptations and therefore we should use all kind of prayer The whole vertue of prayer lies not in any one kind but in all kinds 3. A Conquering Prayer must be in the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This hath four things in it 1. It must be in the Spirit and not onely in the outward man So the Scholiast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It must not be a work of the head or hands or eyes onely but chiefly a work of the heart Prayer is called the powring out of the soul 1 Sam. 1. 15. The powring out of the heart Psal 62. 8. The lifting up or stretching out of the soul Psal 25. 1. We read indeed of the lifting up of the hands Psal 28. 2. Of the lifting up of the eyes Psal 123. 1. Of the bowing of the knee Ephes 3. 14. These are fit and convenient postures to manifest the inward affections of the heart but the main work of prayer is in the inward man Quod cor non facit non fit Satan is a Spiritual Enemy Satans Temptations are Spiritual Temptations and therefore prayer will do no good against him which is not Spiritual God will never honour a prayer with victory over Satan which is onely a bodily service yea prayer without the heart drives God away and brings temptations into the soul It will never be a Satan-conquering but a self-weakning prayer 2. Prayer in the Spirit i. e. Zealous and fervent not cold and faint So 't is used in the Scripture Rom. 12. 11. A cold faint prayer will never prove a Conquering-prayer 'T is fervent prayer that is the effectuall prayer Jam. 5. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such have been the prayers of the victorious servants of God Such was Jacobs prayer Gen. 32. 31. compared with Hos 12. 4. Such was the prayer of Elias Jam. 5. 16. compared with 1 King 18. 42. We read of striving in prayer Rom. 15. 30. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wrastling in prayer Gen. 32. 24. Labouring fervently Col. 4. 12. Praying exceedingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Thes 3. 10. Powring out a prayer Psal 102. tit Lifting up a prayer Esa 64. 7. Stirring up our selves in prayer Esa 64. 7. All which expressions note ardency Satan is not cold but servent not faint but zealous in his Assaults he fights against us in his Spirit that is with all his might and if we do not pray in the Spirit we shall rather encourage him then get the Victory 3. In the Spirit that is in sincerity Spirit is used in Scripture in opposition to hypocrisie Joh. 4. 24. Ambrose expounds this of purity of heart and integrity Hoc est in Spiritu semper ●rare mundâ conscientiâ fide integrâ precem ad Deum dirigere In carne enim orat qui pollutâ mente orat A prayer proceeding from an impure heart is like rotten Arrows against an Enemy which will neither wound him nor kill him Hypocritical prayers shall not be heard of God Psal 66. 18. Nor shall they be fear'd of Satan Satan is not hypocritical and in appearance but real and in good earnest in his temptations and so must a Christian be in his prayer that means to overcome 4. In the Spirit i. e. By the help of the Holy Spirit The Saints have this happiness that the Holy Ghost makes intercession in them with sighs and groans which cannot be uttered Rom. 8. 26. Now he prayes in the Spirit that prayes by the help and assistance of the Spirit he that acteth the Graces of the Spirit in Prayer Faith Hope Heavenliness c. Some deride Prayer in and by the Spirit Satan is a Spirit and no prayer will put him to flight but that which is framed in the heart by the Holy Spirit of prayer It is not the gift of Prayer but the grace of Prayer which gets the day 4. A Conquering Prayer must be a watchfull Prayer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is required as a necessary Qualification of Prayer Mat. 26. 41. There is a two-fold watchfulness in reference unto prayer 1. A watchfulness unto prayer Of this we read 1 Pet. 4. 7. Be ye sober and watch unto prayer A watchfulness in prayer Of which we read Col. 4. 2. Watch in prayer with thanksgiving He that would overcome Satan by prayer must do both these He must watch unto prayer that is 1. He must have the thoughts of

shall call on my name and I will hear them Rom. 10. 14. How shall they call on him on whom they have not believed so 1 Pet. 1. 17. and 1 Cor. 1. 2. 'T is called sometimes the making of our request to God Phil. 4. 6. sometimes the seeking of Gods face Speaking unto God intreating the Lord c. All which import invocation I put this in for these two Reasons viz. 1. Because it is in it self an Act of Religion of solemn worship and Adoration so much the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth It is sometimes used for all Religion Gen. 4. 26. The restoring of the worship of God from corruption wherein it had now for a long time been is set out Synecdochically by that part of it 2. To distinguish it from those Invocations which are not religious but rash passionate inadvised and prophane wishes such as men in discontent and distemper put up to God as also to distinguish it from those Prayers which want those Religious and holy affections and Ingredients which should be in a holy Prayer Heb. 12. 28. Eccles 5. 1. 3. 'T is calling upon the true God This I add for these three Reasons 1. To exclude all prayer made to Saints Angels the Virgin Mary or any other Creature Prayer being an Act of Religious worship cannot without manifest Idolatry be directed to any Creature Rev. 22. 9. Mat. 4. 10. Judg. 13. 16. That in Gen. 48. 16. is not to be understood of a created Angel but of Jehovah the Son of God the increated Angel of the Covenant vid. Hos 12. 4 5. compared with Gen. 32. 28. It was not any created Angel but God himself who redeemed him out of evill 2. To exclude all prayer to false Gods such as Heathens do invoke vid. Psal 44. 21. 3. To teach us that we must direct our prayers to God in Trinity We must invocate the Trinity of persons in the unity of the God-head When in prayer we name one person of the Trinity we must in our heart and minde include the other two for however the persons be distinct in themselves yet in all the duties of worship which we perform the name of any person Father Son or Holy Ghost is to be taken essentially not personally We are to conceive the Father subsisting in the same God-head with the Son and Holy Ghost and in all workings ad extra the three persons of the Trinity work together and are only distinguished in manner of working Therefore we must not separate them in worship And when we pray to Christ we are not to sever his two Natures in our minde but we must call upon him as God and man for however the Manhood is not to be worshipped with religious worship for it self or by it self because it is by it selfe a Creature yet as it is personally united to the God-head it is part of that person which is true God and therefore to be worshipped with one and the same worship wherewith the Godhead is worshipped Heb. 1. 6. 4. 'T is in the name of Christ the Mediator In the state of innocency man might worship God without a Mediator but since sin made the breach God will accept no worship from man but what is tendred in the hands of a Mediator This Mediator is Jesus Christ alone 1 Tim. 2. 5. This was typified in the Law The High Priest alone did enter into the Sanctuary and carry the names of the Children of Israel before the Lord and the people stood without Exod. 28. 29. this did typifie Christs Mediation The Mercy seat had two things The Cloud of Incense that covered it The blood of the Bullock sprinkled before it Lev. 16. 13 14. That blood typified Christs satisfaction The Cloud of incense his intercession The Patriarchs of old made all their Prayers in Christs name Deut. 9. 17. Christ is the Jacobs Ladder No man comes to the Father but by him He is our Brother Benjamin without whom God will not bid us welcome vid. Eph. 3. 12. This I add for two Reasons First To exclude the mediation of Saints and Angels the Papists make Co-Mediators with Christ Secondly To take off that fond conceit of the meritoriousness of our prayers These come in the name of your prayers not in Christs name 5. For the obtaining of good things necessary for soul and body and the averting of evil things Here we have both Petition and Deprecation That which is to be prayed for comprehends 1. Good things 2. Things lawful 1 Joh. 5. 14. 3. Things necessary not trifles not vanities not res ludicrae we must not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. Things for soul and body daily bread pardon of sinne That which is to be prayed against or deprecated Evill things Penal Evills Sinful Evils Only things spiritually good must be prayed for In the first place Matth. 6. 33. Absolutely All outward things must be prayed for and prayed against not absolutely but with subordination to the Will of God and our good Not as I will but as thou wilt 6. That God may be the better glorified This I add to let you see what the supream and principal end of a Christian should be in prayer Not so much the satisfaction of his own wants or the removal of his own annoyance as the glorifying of God vid. 1 Pet. 4. 11. Hallowed be thy name is put into the first place of that pattern for prayer and Thine is the Kingdome power and glory into the Conclusion to let us see that Gods honour must be both the Alphae and Omega of our Prayers Secondly what are the Ingredients of a Conquering Prayer In the opening of this I shall give you an Exposition of that which I made the latter part of the Text and it hath these six things in it 1. A conquering Prayer must be a frequent Prayer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As often as God gives us an occasion and fit opportunity so often must we perform this Duty of Prayer First The Scripture doth not onely enjoyn the Duty of Prayer but requires frequency in it Luke 18. 1. 1 Thes 5. 17. Daily prayer is commanded by our Saviour Matth. 6. 11. Give us this day our daily bread Daily prayer yea Morning and Evening prayer was typified by the morning and evening Sacrifice under the Law vid. Exo. 29. 38 39. and Numb 28. 3. That was to be offered by the Israelites every morning and every evening without intermission yea upon their Sabbaths and other Festivals though there were other peculiar Sacrifices to be offered by the people yet the daily Sacrifice was not to be omitted Numb 28. 10. Secondly the servants of God have been frequent in prayer Daniel used to pray three times a day Dan. 6. 10. David seven times a day Psal 119. 164. Yea he was vir orationis for his frequency in it Psal 109. 4. The story relates it of John the Evangelist that by his frequent prayer his knees were grown like Camels

his heart taken up about this Duty he must prepare for it both matters for it and time for it he must so order his affairs that he may solemnly wait upon this work of prayer many Christians are so intangled about other things they do so watch for the matters of this life that they have no fit time for prayer 2. He must watch and observe those special seasons in which God doth move and stir up his heart to this Duty He must watch in Prayer that is he must watch against Drowsiness against Distractions and wandrings against whatsoever may divert him from prayer It is to be the care of a Christian that his heart may be composed in prayer that Satan may not take him off from the work he hath in hand Satan watcheth unto Temptation and watcheth In Temptation and if we do not watch both Into supplication and In supplication he will have a very great advantage against us your drowsie careless loose unsetled prayer is the way to encourage not to dishearten Satan 5. A conquering Prayer must be a persevering Prayer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It signifieth such an invincible constancy and perseverance as will be beaten off by no kind of opposition or difficulty whatsoever This is required in many places Rom. 12. 12. Col. 4. 2. We must not onely pray for a day or a year and then cease our prayers must continue as long as the battel continues All victory is promised to him onely that perseveres Satan is never weary of tempting and we must never be weary of praying You must be still charging and discharging this Ordinance of Prayer as Satan is charging and discharging upon you by his Temptations Discontinuing of this may lose the battel The Apostle exhorts Christians to have a care that their prayers be not cut off 1 Pet. 3. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The cutting off prayer is as dangerous as the totall neglecting of prayer 6. A conquering Prayer must be a charitable prayer This is in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not as if we must pray for none but Saints God gives us leave to pray for all sinners except those who have sinned that unpardonable sinne Samuel prayed for Saul Abraham prayed for Ishmael c. 'T is not exclusive of others His meaning is we must pray for others especially for the Saints the Eye of Charity in this as in other pieces of it is to look first at the Saints The Saints are liable most of all to the violence of the same Temptation which we are lyable to The Saints being helped by our prayers will be the better able to pray for us and to help us in our Assaults by their prayers And besides Prayers for the Saints will engage God to hear the prayers that we make for our selves in our own Temptations I might add more Qualifications out of other Scriptures but I resolve not to go out of the Text. Thirdly Wherein the usefulness of Prayer as to the overcoming of Satan and his Temptations lyeth This I shall shew in these things viz LECT XXVI April 3. 1650. FIrst Prayer is the way to prevent Temptations from entring It doth make the soul in a manner impenetrable Matth. 26. 41. Watch and pray that ye enter not into Temptation Satans hands are tied up by the power of Prayer sometimes that he cannot shoot an Arrow of Temptation against the Soul Lead us not into temptation Mat. 6. 13. It 's a hard thing for Satan with all his wiles to make his fiery Darts fasten upon the Soul of a praying Christian Secondly Prayer is the way to pull out Satans Darts when they are fastened For 1. Prayer sets the blessed Trinity on work for the Souls assistance It engageth God to take our part in the day of battel When Moses held up his hands Israel prevailed when he let his hands down Amaleck prevailed Exod. 17. 11. Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee Psal 50. 15. The Prayer of the Disciples did awake Jesus Christ and set him awork for them when the winds and waves did threaten shipwrack and present ruine Mat. 8. 24 25 26. When the waves and storms of Temptation threaten the ruine of the Soul Prayer awakes Christ and sets him on action for the Soules safety The prayer of Paul when he was actually engaged with Satan in a very hot Dispute brought him in assistance from Heaven I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me and he said My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness c. 2 Cor. 12. 8 9. Prayer brings in supply of assisting Grace 2. Prayer gives strength to all the other pieces of the Christian Armour It is reserved by the Apostle to the last place because both is an evidence we have the other because it is so helpfull to all the rest 1. It doth keep the Girdle of Truth upon the Loyns Holy Prayers are as the Clasps of this Girdle which tie it together and keep it from falling off 2. It is that which doth tie together the Breast-plate of Righteousness 3. It keeps on the Shooes of the preparation of the Gospel upon our feet Take away the strings of Prayer and these shooes will soon slip off the feet 4. It strengthens the Shield of Faith and keeps it from breaking I have prayed for thee that thy Faith do not fail If either Christs prayer for us or our prayer for our selves fail the Shield of Faith will fail also Jude 20. 5. It keeps Hope alive he that is most frequent in prayer will be most lively in hoping 6. It puts an edge to the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God stirres us up to prayer and then Prayer makes the Word sharp and prevalent 3. Prayer expels those Corruptions which weaken and prejudice the Soul and give advantage to Satan in the day of Temptation The strength of sinne in the soul is the strength of Satan all his advantage is from our own Corruptions Now Prayer doth help on the work of Mortification and Sanctification it purgeth the Conscience it purifieth the heart it fastens grace in the root and increaseth it in the branch c. Every holy Prayer pares off something from that body of Death which is Satans Armory and strong hold in us 4. Prayer adds boldness and courage Information 1. This lets us see the reason why Satan is such an enemy to Prayer That he useth all means to take off the servants of God from this Duty the Scripture tells and the experiences of all the people of God make it good What distractions and disturbances doth he ordinarily work in the hearts of men when they are employed in this service The Saints of God never find him more busie with them then at such a time When Paul was going to prayer a Spirit of Divination meets him and labours to divert his thoughts Act. 16. 16. A Child of God can never