wée doe know in common reason that it is against reason to request earnestly a thing of a man that wee know hee is no way able to doe for vs. But it may bée obiected if a man be willing and ready to helpe vs when we haue occasion to vse him accordingly as hée hath formerly promised vs what néede wée be so earnest So God hath promised that hée will helpe vs when wée come vnto him why is feruency then so necessary To the former part or proposition I answer that good manners require so much For otherwise 1. We should séeme rather to aske a thing of him than to intreat him as though for some respects hée were as much beholding vnto vs when there is no such matter 2. Wée should séeme rather to require a thing of him then to desire it 3. We should cause him to thinke that wée haue no great néede of that which wée request Hence it is that the humble beggar which craueth earnestly doth spéede better than hée that asketh carelesly and much better then hée that asketh commandingly To the second part or reddition I answer that we must come vnto God as a poore harmeles beggar comes to a King to craue almes in whose presence we must estéeme our selues as but a flea as Dauid termes himselfe before Saul 1 Sam. 24. 15. Yea as dust and ashes as Abraham termes himselfe approaching néere to the Lord. The Lord will haue vs to call and crye and as it were clamourously to follow after him when he séemes to turne his backe euen as the beggar doth and as the poore widdow in the Gospell did that claue to the vniust Iudge like a Burre till she had her petition granted And this is indéed a speciall fruit of true faith and an euident signe of trust in God For hereby wée acknowledge him to be our onely helpe and none other and therefore we cleaue fast vnto him as being otherwise destitute helplesse and hopelesse This was the continuall practise of Dauid on this manner to pray This was the practise of the Cananitish Woman whose daughter was possessed with a Deuill Matth. 15. 22. which Christ there taketh for a speciall argument of her faith Wherefore was Balaak so earnest with Balaam to come and curse Israell Euen because he was the onely man in his kingdome on whose helpe he relyed and wherin he most trusted I know saith he that he whom thou blessest is blessed and hee whom thou cursest is cursed Num. 22. 6. Vpon this knowledge and confidence was hée so earnest with him Likewise vpon our knowledge acknowledgement and confidence in God are wée earnest with him otherwise our prayers are cold and drousie heartlesse and lippe-labour yea almost saying in our harts with the wicked what profit shall wee haue if we pray to the Almighty A special example of this feruency in Prayer sée Psalme 143. 6. My soule gaspeth to thee as a thirsty land Likewise 2 Chron. 32. 20. Ezechias and Esay pray to heauen against Senacherib and were heard Thus Anna prayed 1 Sam. 1. Thus the faithfull in afflictions pray Psal 123. 2. The Iewes in captiuity are taught by Ieremie to pray after this manner Lamentations 2. 18. 19. O wall of the daughter of Sion let teares runne downe like a riuer day and night In the beginning of the watch powre out thine heart like water before the Lord. Thus the Lord commaundeth them to pray in the day of their visitation Ierem. 29. 12. 13. Then shall they cry vnto mee and I will heare you and yee shall seeke mee and finde mee because ye shall seeke me with all your heart Fiftly the Lord heareth the prayers and supplications of the godly because they are not wauering minded but constantly relie on the promises of GOD in the vse of those lawfull meanes that in his prouidence hée hath appointed for them Therefore that our prayers may bée heard wée must pray First in the spirit Secondly according to Gods will Thirdly in Humility Fourthly with feruency Fiftly with constancy A Godly Prayer to be said at all times eyther in publicke or priuate ALmighty and euerliuing God maker and preseruer of all things in Heauen and in earth and in Iesus Christ our most mercifull and louing Father wee thy poore and vnworthy seruants being desirous to offer vnto thy diuine Maiesty the fruits of our lippes euen an Euening or Morning sacrifice of prayer praise and thanksgiuing do intreat thy fatherly goodnesse so to prepare our sinfull hearts by thy good spirit as that although in much infirmity and weakenesse yet in sincerity and true desire wee may performe this duty in some sort acceptably to thy gratious will For O Lord we humbly confesse here before thy glorious presence that wée are altogether in thy fight a loathsome masse of corruption conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquity all our righteousnes being like a menstruous cloth our mindes full of ignorance our wills full of rebellion our affections earthly and sensuall our consciences full of pollution continually casting vp mire and dirt our liues a sinfull race of iniquity to iniquity growing riper in trespasses and sinnes then we doe in yeares Innumerable are the sinnes of our deceitfull hearts which for want of knowledge of our selues and due examination we passe by without confession without sorrow without repentance amendment Our omission of all good dueties towards thy maiesty towards our brethren and towards our selues is infinite And the sins that we daily commit against our owne knowledges and consciences through presumption and carnall security are without number And yet our Consciences accuse vs and we féele by wofull experience how full of wants imperfections and frailty we are how prone to all euill how backward to all goodnes how doubtfull distrustfull fearefull and vnconstant in euery good action yea our whole spirits soules and bodies are full of vanity and prophanenesse deadnesse dulnesse and drowsinesse in thy worship and seruice And whereas thy goodnesse toward vs is endlesse in pouring plentifully vpon vs all temporall benefits and spirituall blessings Yet such is our vnthankefulnesse as that the one wée spend vpon our lusts and the other wée haue contemned and neglected or in our liues haue not sufficiently expressed the swéete comforts thereof in thy Gospell reuealed vnto vs. But sith O deare Father thou hast taught vs by thine owne word that thou hast loued vs with an euerlasting loue in Christ Iesus before all times and in time hast héeretofore declared and doest yet continually manifest thy grace and mercy towards all thy people and to vs in speciall giuing vs thy word and worshippe in so peaceable and plentifull manner and together with the same all things néedfull both for soule and body we beséech thée also vouchsafe this speciall grace vnto vs euen a liuely féeling of our sinne and misery that on the one side through the sensible apprehension of thy wrath and sharpe punishment remorse and sorrow may constraine our
for thy fatherly care ouer vs in prouiding all things necessary for our soules and bodies for our food rayment health peace liberty friends which many of thy children want that are as déere vnto thée as our selues But especially aboue all we praise thy name for the blessings of a better life as namely for our election in Christ Iesus before the world was for our creation after thine owne image in the beginning for our estectuall vocation out of the darkenes of this world into thy glorious light and kingdome by the outward preaching of thy word and the inward operation of thy spirit for our iustification by the obedience bloudshed of thine owne sonne for our adoption from the thraldome of Satan into the glorious liberty and priuiledge of Sonnes for our sanctification in the crucifying of the body of sinne and quickning of the inner man for our continuall preseruation against the temptations and conquest of sinne Satan and this euill world for the frée donation of thy holy spirit the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the possession purchased and for the continuance of thy Gospell the word of truth and the meanes whereby wée are partakers of all these blessings O Lord open our blinde eyes euery day more and more to sée and consider of thy great and maruellous loue towards vs in all these things that by the due consideration thereof we may be drawne néerer vnto thée to loue thée much because thou hast giuen much And as thou doest abound towards vs in all goodnes so grant that wée may abound toward thee in all obedience and thankefulnesse And as O Lord thou being infinite in mercy hast had mercy on vs when wée deserued iudgement euen so we beséech thée be mercifull to all them that sit in darkenesse and in the shadow of death cause the glorious light of thy Gospell to shine in their hearts according to the good pleasure of thine owne will and in whom thou hast already begun the worke of conuersion vouchsafe them also the grace of perseuerance that continuing to the end they may be partakers of glory with thy Saints in light And whereas saluation came of thine ancient people the Iewes but they through vnbeléefe were cut off that wée by faith might be grafted in Lord call them in thine appointed time take away the vaile from before their blinde and vncircumcised hearts and reueale the knowledge of thy sonne vnto them that they and wée may be one shéepefold vnder one shepheard Christ Iesus In the meane time destroy the kingdom of sinne Satan and Antichrist euery day more and more Build vp thine owne kingdome of Grace in the hearts of euery one of vs and hasten thy kingdome of glory that when this miserable life is ended wee may raigne with thée eternally in glory Be gratious and mercifull to them that suffer affliction for the testimony of a good Conscience deliuer them out of the hands of their enemies or so strengthen them with the comfortable assistance of thy spirit that in dying they may ouercome the world death and hell Comfort all that are troubled in mind with the burthen of their sins speake peace to their Consciences say vnto their soules I am thy saluation Come vnto me all ye that are weary and heauy laden and I will ease you And to this end giue the tongue of the learned to thy Ministers that they may know to Minister a word in time to him that is weary Be mercifull to them that are afflicted in body with paines sicknesses or diseases giue them grace to beare the crosse with patient thankefulnesse and to learne by those visitations to confesse their sinnes to acknowledge their faults to call vpon thy name to amend their liues that as heretofore they haue gone astray after the course of this world through the inticements of naturall concupiscence so they may now be brought to the knowledge of thée and of themselues And also strengthen them that are any manner of wayes assaulted by Satan giue them a ioyfull issue with the temptation that thy grace in their deliuerance by them may be glorified and thy power conquering Satan in their weakenesse may be manifested and for euer magnified Thankesgiuing before meate VVE thanke thée O Heauenly Father for all thy blessings and mercies heretofore bestowed vpon vs and still continued renued vnto vs. Especially at this time for these thy good creatures that of thine owne goodnesse and bounty thou hast ordained and prouided for the maintenance of our bodies giue them vertue and power to nourish vs that thereby our strengths being renued we may be more fit and able to serue thée in the duties of our callings to thine honour and glory and to the comfort of our owne soules and consciences through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Thankesgiuing after meate VVE desire to return all honour glory praise thankesgiuing to thy Maiesty for thy fatherly care ouer vs since the beginning of our dayes till this present houre Chiefly for thy heauenly word the foode of our soules for thy Sabaoths and the peaceable exercises of all holy dueties therein And in speciall at this time for these thy good creatures whereof at this present wée haue béene partakers by thy good prouidence beséeching thée so to blesse and sanctifie the same vnto vs as that we may walke in the strength of them in the performance of all good duties to thy glory and our owne comforts through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen FINIS
for his benefits like dutifull children but it is for the benefits sake to commit spirituall fornication therewith whereby they anger and prouoke the Lord to burne in iealousie and in the fiercenesse of his wrath vtterly to consume them Fourthly the Lord heareth not sinners because they are not thankfull for benefites receiued therefore the Lord denyeth their requests and in stéed of a blessing sendeth them a cursing And if God deale thus with his owne children how much more with the sinner and the vngodly Because that Ezechiah rendred not according to the reward bestowed on him but his heart was lifted vp therefore wrath came vpon him vpon Iudah and Ierusalem 2 Chron. 32. 25. And Dauid saith that wrath came vpon Israell for their vnthankefulnes and disobedience And the great complaint that the Lord maketh of their vnkindnesse sée Micah 6. 2. to the vers 5. Fiftly the Lord heareth not sinners because they aske not in faith They repose no trust in Gods promises but are tossed too fro as waues of the sea with the wind Iames 1. 6. 7. The blind heart of the wicked lusteth and in his lust and for his lust he commeth to God but when God heareth not then hée playes with his wit and casteth about euery way to obtaine his fleshly desires but if by his owne deuises and deuised meanes he cannot preuaile then hée commeth to God againe If God heare him not then he goes to his shitts againe euer and anon intermingling broken rude and vntempered prayers with earnest expectation of his sinfull desires as though God should be euer at hand to helpe and further him in his lustfull procéeding And if hée cannot obtaine his desires then is hée angry with God and leaueth praying as the wicked say in Iob. 21. 15. What benefit haue we by praying to the Almighty Obiection But God doth often heare the vnlawfull and vnholy prayers desires and requests of the wicked and graunteth the same as well as to the godly Answere It is true but not in such manner and for such ends as hee heareth his owne children First he granteth the wicked and rebellious their requests and desires of indignation and wrath The Israelites being weary of Manna because that to feede alwaies of one dish became wearisome and loathsome vnto them wished that they were in Egypt againe where they had varieties and change of meates as Fish Cucumbers Pepons Léeks Onions Garlicke therefore they required flesh of the Lord and they were not disappointed of their lust Psal 78. 30. They did eate and were wel filled for he gaue them their owne desire But while the meate was yet in their mouthes the heauy wrath of God came vpon them and slew the wealthiest of them yea and smote downe the chosen men that were in Israell The rich man Luke 12. had his desires granted for he desired and sought for wealth all his life long and that his worldly estate might prosper and flourish and so it did hée was not disappointed of his lust But as hee withdrew his heart from the Lord and set his affections on earthly things therein putting his confidence euen so the Lord withdrew his grace from him and for his reward left him in the hand of hell To this purpose the wise man saith Eccles 5. 12. There is an euill sicknesse that I haue seene vnder the Sunne to wit riches reserued to the owners for their euill The like to this we sée in that miserable caitife Eccles 48. that had neither sonne nor brother nor any kinseman that néeded his wealth yet was there none end of his trauell neither could his eye be satisted with riches Wherein we may sée that the Lord granted his couetous desires but in his wrath doth withdraw his grace from him For hée had not power giuen him of God to eat drinke and to delight his soule and to reioyee in the good vse of his goods but to liue in continuall labour sorrow gréefe trouble feare despayre and drudgery all his life And héerein is the witty and wicked worldling deceiued all way that whiles hee thinketh to make a friend of the world it becommeth his enemy in the end For thus the goulden Idoll Mammon rewardeth his seruants He leaueth them at the last in the hand of hell from which he is not able to deliuer them The world like a stickering whore deceiueth them causing them by her manifold allurements to commit fornication with her But as Dalilah hauing bound Sampson who doted too much on her forthwith cryed the Philistimes be vpon thee Sampson euen so deceitfull and louely Mammon hauing tyed and bound downe to the earth the plunged hearts of her muddy Mammonists calleth for the Diuells to prey vpon their soules Examples héereof are the rich man and Diues Secondly God granteth those things that the wicked desire wish and pray foryet he heareth not the wicked The reason is his owne children request the same whom he heareth and so the vngodly are made partakers of their desires through the prayers of the godly amongst whom they liue The men of the earth desire earthly things and they obtaine the same for the godlies sake whom notwithstanding they hate and despise In Pauls dangerous voyage both Paul and the martiners desire safety and for his sake were they saued which otherwise should haue perished yet the Souldiers would haue killed Paul Acts 27. 42. Whiles faithfull Iacob dwelt with churlish Laban his substance multiplyed and prospered yet when God blessed Iacob also with great increase Laban and his sonnes murmured and hung downe the countenance enuying his prosperity For this is the malice of the wicked that whereas they enioy the fat of the earth and the good of the land for the godlies sake that are mingled among them yet they hate the godly snatching and catching all things from them yea they iudge them vnworthy of any thing and if it were in their power would make them their slaues and drudges yea and would depriue them not onely of goods but also of life And héerein obserue the darkenesse of their hearts yea their extreame madnesse for if the godly were taken from amongst them as iust Lot was taken from among the Sodomites then should fire and brimstone suddenly raine downe vpon their heads When as the wicked Iewes had crucified Christ chased away the Apostles and wéeded the Christians out of Ierusalem then came fire sword famine and vtter destruction vpon them Euen so if all the godly were taken out of the world at this instant the day of iudgement in a moment should necessarily follow For as soone as the wheat is shorne then the tares must presently be cut downe For they haue done harme to the wheat and doe harme in the land There is no profit in their growth but in their burning And héere let all flowters worldlings disdainefull persons polliticke catchers despisers of the word and them that are good know that God doth not maintaine the world and