14. 1. 4 The foole who hath said in his heart there is no GOD can not call vpon GOD but doeth abominable workes who continueth in foolishnesse and wickednesse doeth not pray fervently but shall come to wretchednesse and miâ—erie Secondly Holynesse and sanctification Sanctification is a most sure note and charecter of one that frequently giveth himselfe to earnest prayer and invocation For as Moses d Exod. 34.25 his face did shine bright when hee was conversant with GOD fourtie dayes vpon the mount so a devote Christian oftentymes conferring with GOD by prayer and earnest meditation will surely bee endued with holinesse and sanctification His e Math. 5. 16 light shall so shine before men that they may see his good workes and glorifie their Father in Heaven If one with Ahab f 1 King 16.33 shall proceede to provocke the LORD or leudnesse of life or continue to bee a profane g Heb. 11. 16 person as Esau hee vseth not the exercise of true prayer and invocation Thirdly Humilitie and submission is a sure signe of prayer Humilitie and supplication For h Isaiah 57. 15 GOD who is high and excellent and that inhabiteth eternitie who dwelleth in the high and holy place hee dwelleth also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit to giue life light humilitie and all good blessings Abraham praying to the LORD was humble and called himselfe but dust i Genes 18. 27 and ashes All who are proude in heart are abomination to the LORD they are farre from GOD their â—ride k Prover 16.18 goeth before their destruâ—â—â—n Fourthly Mercie and compassion is an evident of prayer if thou Mercie hast gotten mercy from GOD thou will bee pittifull to thy brethren And there l â—am 2.13 shall bee judgement mercilesse to him who sheweth no mercie nor compassion Lastly Thou shall haue some Comfort joy and consolation in tyme of trouble and affliction David who did delight in prayer when m 1 Sam. 30 hee was in great sorrow his people intending to stone him yet David comforted himselfe in the LORD his GOD. In the last dayes when GOD will shew wonders in Heaven aboue Act. 2. 19. and tokens in the earth beneath blood and fire and vapour of smoake The Sunne being turned into darknesse and the Moone in blood It shall be that whosoever shall call vpon the Name of the LORD shall bee saved FINIS Faults escaped PAge 4. Line 6. qua reade quâ— pag 5. lin 24. he reâ—â— but. pag 7 lin 24 committed reade concealed ibid. 〈◊〉 conteined reade continued pag. 7. lin 27. it lacketh appearance pag. 8. lin 1. her reade his pag. 9 lin 20 Sara reade Saul pag. 10 lin 25. it reade the rich Crowes reade Cranes pag. 25. lin 17. his it lacketh God pag. 27. lin 15. when reade whom pag. 27. lin 27. trespassion reade transgression pag 28. lin 9. our reade thy pag. 37. lin 20. Christian reade chieftaine pag. 38. lin 5. thou reade they pag. 73. lin 21. proved reade reproved pag 79 lin 14. ouâ— reade my pag. 107. lin 6. Spargastes reade Spargapises pag. 109 lin 15. swore reade snore pag 115. lin 24 delight reaâ—â— delt pag. 116. lin 13. godly reade bodily pag. 122 lin 〈◊〉 their reade these ibid. lin 20 all reade as pag. 123. lin 14. discerdia reade discrimina pag. 144. lin 1. worthie reade worldlie p. 164. l. 2. promises reade premisses p. 165 l. 1â— convert reade convoy p. 1â—7 l. 22 that reade thankes p. 196. l. 25. lawes reade lawer p. 207 l. 10. giveth reade getteth p. 208 l. 12. prayed reade served p 234. l 25. enteating reade entraitted p. 240. l. 17. sinne reade shame p 259 l 5. behoved reade behaved p. 288. l. 25. saith reade with p. 290. l. 1. Attolus reade Attalus p. 309. l. 23. scarcely reade scarcetie p. 353. l. 25. boldly reade bodily p. 354. l 3. taking reade laking p. 433. l. 10. repulso reade repulsa p. 443. l. 9. Autrum reade Antiuâ—
vs with CHRIST that being made members wee may be quickned and revived 4. ruling and l Rom. 8.14 governing vs who are vnruly and subject to wander and goe m Psal 119.167 astray like lost sheepe even leading vs in the right way to happinesse 5. comforting n Iohn 1. 16 vs in all troubles and afflictions and sealing o Ephes 1. 18 vs wavering in faith and assuring vs of our salvation Secondly to insist shortly in the comparison by this Spirit wee will become GODS o 1 Cor. 3. 9 husbandrie to bring foorth fruit plentifully and constantly Thirdly by the helpe of this Spirit wee goe forward in the straite gate in the narrow p Math 7. 44 way that leadeth to life overcomming all impediments and enemies Fourthly when thou walkest through q Isaiah 43. 2 the fire thou shall not bee burnt neither shall the flame kindle vpon thee but thou by the Spirit shall bee refreshed joyfully and cooled comfortably Fiftly by this Spirit the Lord will fine r Mal. 3. 3 thee and purifie thee as golde and silver and separateth thy sinnes and drosse from thee Sixtly GOD by the vertue of his efficacious Spirit will raise thee vp when thou fallest When the holy Prophet Ezechiel saw that glorious and Heavenly vision hee Å¿ Ezech. 2. 2 fell vpon his face and the LORD said to him Sonne of man stand vp vpon thy feete and I shall speake vnto thee but of himselfe hee had no strength to arise vntill the Spirit entered into him and set him vpon his feete So it is with thee and the strongest Christian also thou hast no power to arise and stand vnlesse the Spirit enter into thee Sevently So u Psal 12. 7 the Lord will preserue thee from perishing or rotting from generation to generation for ever Eightly then hee will direct thee in the right course to Heaven that x Iob 17. 9 thou Who are righteous should holde on thy way and thou Whose handes are pure shall encrease thy strength Nyntly his Spirit will worke true saith in thee which y Act. 15. 9 Will purifie thy heart and make cleane thy conversation Tenthly hee will giue thee an heart z Ezech. 11. 19 of flesh and mollifie and soften the hardnesse and obduration of the same Lastly it will kindle the fire of grace within thee and inflame thee with an ardent zeale of GODS Glory it shall bee like the a Levit. 6. 12 fire burning on the Altar evermore never to bee put out or extinguished Seeing then such is the necessitie of the presence of the holy Spirit seeke the same most earnestly and continually Entertaine the same most carefully and conscientiously never b Ephes 4. 3â— grieue this Spirit by which thou art sealed vnto the day of redemption quench not c Thess 5 19 this holy Spirit by thy filthy sinnes and stubbornnesse for it will procure to thee endlesse joy it will worke in thee new life and regeneration and so bring thee to a sense of thy misery and to a deploration of thy calamitie Without the power and asistance of this Spirit thou can never bee revived and quickened As d Ezech 17. 9 the dry bones which were scattered and dispersed being conjoyned and having flesh sineues skinne but had no breath nor life vntill the Prophet did prophecie vnto the wind and life and breath came vnto the slaine and they stood vp vpon their feete a great armie So thou who by nature was e Ephes 2. 5 dead by sinnes will bee quickned by GOD in CHRIST by the breathing as it were of the wind of the holy Spirit thou shall line spiritually Now seeing it is so sure that without the Spirit thou knowest not f Rom. 8. 26 to pray as thou ought to doe seeke for the Spirit seeke for this Spirit which will quicken and helpe thy infirmitie and make request for thee with sighes that cannot bee expressed and then the words of thy mouth and meditation of thy heart shall bee acceptable in the LORDS sight Secondly Before thou canst truely lament thy wretchednesse Wakening be fore true lameÌ„ting and miserable estate thou must not only bee quickened with the life of grace but also awakened from thy deepe sleepe of sinne and securitie In this place wee will declare Godwilling foure things 1. The evill of such sleeping 2. Who doe sleepe and the difference betweene them 3. The meanes of awakening 4. The good thereof First the great evill that fearefull hurt which commeth by this sleepe can not bee sufficiently declared The evill of sinfull sleepe First The Talent given from Idlenesse GOD is not well vsed the LORDS gifts are not duely employed one when he is sleeping is g Math. 25. 26 that vnprofitable servant that carelesse â—â—gerer from whom that which he hath shall bee taken away hee is not worthie of any reward Secondly If naturall sleepe of Povertie the body bee an occasion of indigence and scarsitie for this is the saying of Salomon himselfe loue not h Prover 2â— 13 sleepe least thou fall into poverty open thine eyes and thou shall bee satisfied with bread much more that spirituall slumber of the soule is a cause of povertie lamentable and shamefull povertie proceedeth therefrom One i Revel 3. 17. will bee poore and wretched miserable and naked Qui modo dormit in cupiditatibus suis postea nihil inveniet in suis manibus Thirdly Shame and infamie followeth Infamie this security for the wise man he k Proverb 10.5 that sleepeth in harvest is a sonne that causeth shame hee is a child of confusion that sleepeth vntymously when he should bee diligent about his businesse If ignominy follow sleepe naturall it will rather follow spirituall When Noah after wine was sleeping hee l Genes 9. 22 was vncovered in the midst of his tents his shame and nakednesse was seene and told to others Our shame and filthy nakednesse will bee seene of the Almighty GOD and of his holy Angels and many others when we are sleeping in sinfull securitie Fourthly Our m Math. 13 2â— enemie that Polluion or an evill mixture envyous one while men sleepe will come and sow tares amongst the wheate in the husbandrie of our hearts If Abimelech did harme to the citie of Shechem when n Indg 9. 45 he sowed salt in it for a token of perpetuall detestation will not Sathan doe much more harme to a Christian when hee shall sow salt and tares in his soule evill thoughts and most wicked lusts to defile the same Fifthly Our vigilant adversarie Spoile of goods will also bee most diligent to bereaue vs of the gifts which wee haue alreadie receaved As that harlot tooke her neighbours living sonne and o 1 King 3.20 layde her dead sonne in her bosome so that deceaver will most craftily labour to make a living soule a dead soule in sinne and in
creature groneth with me also and travelleth in paine together vnto this present desiring to be delyvered from this bondage of corruption Seing it is so Haue not I forlorne miscreant the chiefe cause of all calamity great reason seriously to deplore my lamentable miserie to bewaile my deplorable estate and vnspeakable calamitie Haue not I reason to poure out r 1 Sam. 1. 15 my soule before thee and to walke Å¿ Isaiah 38.15 weakely all my yeeres in the bitternesse of my Spirit And first O LORD I find Lament thy losse my selfe insufficient to lament duely the manifold and great losses sustained by mee through my default through my sinne and iniquitie If the childe of the Prophet sorrowed for a peece yron t 2 King 6. 5 for an axe head that fell into the river of Iordan and thus cryed to Elisha Alace Master it is but borrowed And no question O LORD that Pauls companions were then somewhat greived for the hurt and damnage they suffered in that dangerous navigation where they lost their lading u Act. 27. 10 and their ship also If thy servant King David mourned for the losse of his deare friend Ionathan with lamentation Woe x 2 Sam. 1.26 is mee cryed hee for thee my brother Ionathan very kind hast thou beene to mee thy loue towards mee was wonderfull passing the loue of women If thy servant Iacob y Genes 37.34 rent his clothes and did put sackcloth about his loynes and sorrowed a long season for his sonne Ioseph whom hee supposed to haue beene lost And if without doubt Naomi lamented greevously when her husband Abimelech z Ruth 1.3 died in a strange land And if Ieremiah sorrowed heavilie for the life of a good King because the breath a Lamen 4.20 of their nostrils the anointed of the LORD was taken in the nets of the enemie Yea Ioash King of Israel b 2 King 13.14 did weepe vpon the face of sicke Elisha If wicked c 2 Sam. 14.32 Absalon was no way contented when hee saw not his fathers face and if profaine Esau cryed d Genes 27.34 out with a great cry and bitter out of measure when hee wanted the blessing of Isaak Manasseh Manasseths prayer mourned for the losse of a worthie Kingdome Alace O LORD when I consider deligently the wonderfull great losse and damage which I haue sustained spiritually by reason of the multitude of my sinnes and iniquities I cannot deplore nor condignelie lament the same How is it possible to mee to sorrow sufficiently for that I haue lost that fine e Revel 3. 18 gold tryed by the fire enriching mee That f Revel 2.4 I haue lost my first loue beautifying mee I haue wasted the portion of goods which my father gaue vnto mee at my creation How can I bewaile my foolishnesse who haue done what in mee lyeth to losse the kindnesse of my first and best g Iohn 15. 15 friend so beneficiall and loving to mee Woe is mee because I haue h Revel 1. 7 pearced my deare Saviour I haue crucified i Heb 6. 6 againe the Sonne of GOD my most worthie k Ephes 5.32 husband and haue made a mocke of him How can I deplore my misery and great losse which I haue gotten by my rebellion against thee l Iere. 10. 7 O KING of all Nations vnto whom appertaineth the dominion for ever Who m Math. 10.28 is able to destroy both soule and bodie in Hell eternallie How can I foolish creature lament my losse for not hearkning to thy Heavenly instructions and not receiving thy healthsome admonitions who is my n Math. 23.10 only doctor and my o Iohn 3. 2 teacher come from GOD I am much troubled because p Psal 101.29 thou hidest thy face from mee and for that the light of thy loving countenance doeth not shine vpon mee because by my sinnes I haue almost lost thy favour q Psal 30. 5 in which is life and felicitie and thy r Prov. 10.22 blessing which maketh rich and the Å¿ Math. 6.33 Kingdome of Heaven in regard whereof all the earth is but vanitie and meere miserie Now trueth it is O mercifull GOD that many haue sustained Lament thy povertie great losse and yet hath some good remaining behind but I am redacted to extreame povertie I may lament grievouslie because I t Revel 3. 17 am miserable and wretched poore and most indigent empty and naked That widow u 1 King 17.12 of Sarepta O my GOD was greatly impoverished and redacted to a meane estate She had not a cake but even an handfull of meale in a barrell and a little oyle in a cruse shee resolved after that it was eaten to haue dyed But O bountifull LORD thy wisedome knoweth that I poore wretch spiritually doe remaine in greater penurie I haue not of my selfe a sanctified thought an holy word no not a small teare one sorrowfull sigh x Psal 51 16 of a contrite spirit or broken heart For I truely know that in me in y Rom. 7. 18 my nature dwelleth no good thing at all I am like one who hath made shipwracke of all his goods I am like Lazarus z Luk. 16. 20 I haue nothing of my selfe not a morsell of bread not a cuppe of cold water but that which I get by crying and begging of thy Alsufficiencie Now Lament thy debt which is much worse O LORD I am not only thy poore beggar but also I am thy debter wonderfull great is my debt terrible is mine obligation and a Colos 2. 14 thine handwriting against mee is fearefull That b 2 King 4. 1 poore widow cryed for her earthly debt because the creditor would take her two sonnes to bee his bond men for the same I haue much more reason to cry and mourne to thee for my spiritual debt which without a discharge will take my soule from mee Alace Debt is easilie contracted but hardly removed O LORD it was easily and pleasantly contracted but it is like to bee with paine and difficultie removed Sathan hath deceaved mee he made it to seeme light and easie at the beginning but now it is too heavie and verie displeasant vnto mee and if I get not an acquittance from thine Alsufficient Majestie I c Math. 18. 34 will bee delyvered to the jaylors and cast into the prison out of which there is no foorth comming nor redemption In the meane season O LORD albeit I bee so drowned in debt Lament thy vnfruitfulnesse and miserie yet I remaine as d Math. 3. 10 a barren ground as an vnfruitfull tree woe is mee the axe is put to the roote in danger to bee hewâ—n downe and cast into fire which is vnquenchable I am O LORD by nature like that vnprofitable e Luke 13. 4 figge tree planted in thy wine-yarde Thou hast for many yeares suffered mee
that thou may ever bee graced with vprightnesse of heart and sinceritie to the end thy prayer may haue force with GOD and tend to thy solicitie Content not thy selfe to bee like the hypocriticall Iewes of whom GOD complaineth because they e Hosea 7. 14 cryed not vnto him With their hearts When they houled vpon their beds and because f Isaiah 29.13 they came neere to him With their month and honour him With their lips but had removed their heart farre from him And truely this is a most grievous complaint also of that same Evangelicall Prophet There g Isaiah 64. 7 is none that calleth vpon thy Name What did that holy and wise Prophet lament did not that people appeare h Isaiah 1. 12 before GOD and did tread in his courts and brought oblations and kept Sabbaths and solemne assemblies Did i Amos. 5. 22 they not then pray to GOD when they offered burnt offerings meate offerings and peace offerings The Prophet yet spake truely they did not call vpon GOD because they did it not rightly but lypocritically and the prayer of the hypocrite shall turne to sinne and bee esteemed transgression A Father maketh a notable comparison in affirming that the hypocrite Augustin and counterfaite Christian is like that golden k Revel 17. 4 cuppe which was in the hand of that whoorish woman full of abomination and filthinesse of her fornication His prayer then can not bee acceptable Yea though l Iob. 20. 6. 7 his excellencie mounted vp to the Heavens and his head reach to the clouds yet hee shall perish for ever lyke his doung and they which haue seene him shall say where is hee But worship thou thy GOD as hee requireth m Iohn 4. 23 in Spirit and Trueth with an vpright and honest heart in true simplicitie which is the whole grace of our oratrie which covereth Tota Rheto ricae nostrae gratia est mera simplicitas and â—â—â—eth all other infirmitie which is the highest perfection of Christianitie for GOD n Pâ—al 51. 4 who loveth trueth in the inward affection hee will ever doe o Psal 125. 4 good to them that are true in heart Hee will heare their prayers and in his owne good tyme grant them their requests and fuâ—fill their desires Moreover in the eight place yea in the first studie principally Humiliue to haue true humilitie because as excellently saith the Wise-man The p Ecâ—lâ—s 35.17 prayer of him that humbleth hiraselfe goeth through the clouds and ceaseth not till it come â—â—ere and will not departe till the most â—â—igh haue respect therevnto to judge righteously and to execute judgement and doubtâ—â—sle q Isaiah 66. 2 the LORD will looke to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at his Words Caeâ—eâ— a vitia in peccatis superbia vero in Augustin recte factis timendâ— est Other vyces in sinnes but pryde is to bee seared in weldoing And questionlâ—sse all r Prov. 16. 5 that are proud in heart are an abhâ—mination to the LORD The ambitious pâ—titioner shall not bee rewarded but punished learne Å¿ Mat 11. 29 then of thy Saviour to bee mâ—â—ke and â—oâ—lie in heart and thou shall find rest vnto thy soule Thou shall bee conteâ—ted and thy petition graâ—ted t Prov 29. 23 For the humble in sâ—irit shall receive glorie and enjoy merâ—ie O felix humilitas quae DEI trahit â—lementiam Augustin ejus ligat omnipotentiam O happie humilitie which draweth GODS mercie and bindeth his omnipotencie Nynthly Take good heed to Oppurtunitie the time u 2 Cor. 6. 2 accepted and to the day of salvation wherein GOD will heare thee and succour thee Bee not thou like profaine Esau x Heb. 12. 12 who afterward out of tâ—me seeking the blessing with teares was rejected Follow not the joolish y Math. 25 12 Virgins who vntymously when the gate was shut did cry and were repulled but bee carefull z Isaiah 55. 6 to seeke the LORD while hee may bee found and to call vpon him while hee is neere As some Emperiours namely VESPASIAN had a time even when he was going to the baths wherein hee did principally show his liberalitie and bountifulnesse So the great and most a Genes 4. 22 High GOD possessour of Heaven and earth hath his owne season when hee will bestow his rich mercie and vnspeakeable goodnesse when hee will b Hos 10. 12 come and raine righteousnesse vpon his people which occasion if thou â—loathfully neglect the LORD will not admit thy request nor grant thy petition Tenthly As the holy Apostle Constancie exhorteth thee to c Thess 5. 17 pray continually bee d Galat. 6. 9 not wearie of well-doing for in due season thou shall reape if thou faint not Consider diligently that parable of thy Saviour of the importunate widow and vnrighteous Iudge who e Luk. 18. 5 did her justice against her adversarie because shee did make him wearie Let thy prayer be liâ—e St Stevens looking hee f Act 7. 55 looked to Heaven steadâ—astly and therefore comfortablâ— for hee saw the glorie of GOD and IESVS standing at his right hand readie to receaue him so pray thou constantly and ever with vehement affection But vse g Math. 6 7 not vaine repetitions as the Heathen or â—dolaters who thinke to be heard for their much babling like Baals h 1 King 18.26 priests who called from morning till noone saving no other thing but O Baal heare vs all that labour was lost there was none to answere them or helpe them But I say pray continually with 〈◊〉 and so thou mayest doe comfortaâ—â—â—e for Christ will haue a â—are of thee because if hee gaue accâ—â—â— to thee being farre dâ—â—tant from him much more will hee hold thee when thou are more neere to him and if thou i Psal 37. 4 delyte thy selfe in the LORD surely hee will giue thee thy hearts desire in due and convenient time for to comfort thee Lastly in the first place most carefully and continually labour Spirit to bee possessed wholly with the sanâ—tifying Spirit who is GOD and the gift of GOD which l Rom. 8. 26 Deus donum Dei. will helpe thy infirmities when thou knowest not to pray as thou oughtest the spirit it selfe will make request August for thee with sighes which cannot bee expressed which will worke hope and confidence in thee so that thou m Heb. 10 22 shall draw neare to GOD with a true heart in the assurance of Faith so that thou shall giue thy selfe to true fasting and almes-deeds This hope and confidence will not make thee n Rom. 5. 5 ashamed but encouraged and if thou desirest thy prayer to flee vp to Heaven thou must haue as that Father couâ—selleth two August wings namely this right private fasting a frequent custome of a good o
out the golden scepter of his compassion to thee his rod and Psal 23. 4 his staffe may sufficientlie comfort thee 3. Because that GOD will runne n Philip. 5. 14 with the loving father to meete thee a forlorne son and will haue compassion on thee and sufficiently satisfie thee if thou be blind he will o Psal 103. 14 englighten thee if thou be creple he will p Revel 1 5 heale thee if thou bee weake hee will strengtheâ— thee 4. CHRIST if thou bee ashamed for thy pollution and filthinesse will wash q Revel 3. 18 thee with his owne blood if thou feare for thy nakednesse and sintuâ—nessâ— He hath white r Revel 3. 1â— rayment He shall bâ— to thee true righteousnesse Å¿ 1 Cor. 1.30 and sanctification who will procuâ—e thy peace and reconciliation Fourthly Thou may say it is a verie hard matter and of great Comfort to speake to God difficultie to speake and conâ—eâ—re with the LORD of Glorie But this may encourage thâ—â— GOD is thy t Iâ—r 31. 20 father thou art his child As an earthly father will dâ—light aâ—d Similit take pleasure in the babâ—iâ—g of his young bairne who by his speach can not perfectly vtter his owne mynde so thy Heavenly Father will haue mâ—re compâ—ssion u Psal 103.13 vpon thee and will take greater pleasure in thy childish speaking yea in thy babling than in all the oratorie of the wicked if thou â—hink thy selfe weake imâ—otent and ignoranâ— that as Mâ—ses was before men so thou art before GOD slow x Exâ—d 4. 10 of speach and slow of tongue yet content thy selfe with this comfort that the LORD may soone open y Psal 51. 15 thy lips and loose thy tongue that his Spirit z Rom. 8. 26 will helpe thine infirmities and when thou knowest not to pray as thou ought that Spirit it self will make request for thee with sighes which can not be expressed Fifthly If thou be perplexâ—d and sorrowfull that thou hast not a sacrifice to offer to thy GOD Comfort to a Christian who lacke a sacrifice I tell thee certainly that GOD who provided a Genes 22. 8 a burnt offering in the mountaine for Abraham hee will provide a sacrifice for thee also that will bee pleasant and acceptable to himselfe the b Psal 51. 17 sacrifices of GOD are a contrite and broken spirit a murâ—ing and melting heart hee will never despise Sixtly if thou shall thinke it too hard and dâ—ffiâ—ile for thee a weake c Psal 22. 6 worme a d Nehem 3.13 grashopper a flee to wrestle with the Almightie GOD the Creator and vpholder of Heaven and earth who will confound the mightie and malitious adversarie the Antichrist with the e â— Thess 2 spirit or breath of his mouth or with the blast of his nostrâ—ls I answere thee the LORD will giue gâ—ace and furniâ—h strengâ—h to thee albeit hee doâ—h appeaâ—e to bee angâ—ie and thine enâ—miâ— yet then Hâ—e is most favourable and frieâ—â—dâ—y he seâ—mâ—th to shake thee and to cast thee downe yet then hee vpholdâ—th thâ—e he alone gâ—veth thee power to stand and wâ—â—h Iaakob to wrestle with himselfe hee wiâ—l so hâ—pe thee that with Fpaphras f Coloss 4. 12 in thy prayers thou shall striâ—e with the Almightâ—e Seventhly Hee will so iâ—able thee with the strength of gâ—ace that thou shall prevaâ—le with him and obtaine the victorie this his Majestie will doe most willingly and mercifully as a strong father Similit skilfull in sencing will suffâ—r his young weake sonne as it were to overcome him so will thâ— LORD dâ—ale pittifully and lovingly at length with thee and oâ— his free-will and good pleasuâ—e exalt thee to that dignitie and sonour that in CHRIST g Rom. 8. 37 IESUS thou shall through GODS loue in all things be more than a Conquerour And lastly perâ—wade thy selfe certainly that GOD who is thy habitation g Psal 90. 1 from generation to generation wilâ— buâ—â—d thee vpon a sure fundation so that thou shall grow h Ephes 2. 21 vnto aâ— holy Tâ—mple vnto the LORD Moreover if thou be dâ—â—quieted because thou caâ—st not confesse Comforts for these who can not pray perfectlie thy sinnes vnsaiâ—edly thou câ—nst not lament thy wrâ—tchednesse grievousâ— thou caâ—st not aske good gifts a-rightly thou can not request for others as it becommâ—â—h thee I answere thee if there hee but a willing k 2 Cor 8. 12 Vt desint vires tamen est â—audanda voluntas Hoc ego contentos auguâ—or esse Deos. minde in thee it is accepted according to that thou hast and not according to that thou hast not â—f thou hast not gold l Exod. 25. 4 and silver silke nor scarlet to offer to thy GOD yet he will bee content with brasse with goats haire with rammes skinnes if thy heart gâ—ue them freely Yea if thou haue a â—ervent desire to doe this duetie the LORD will heare that m Psal 10. 17 desire of thine heart and bend his ears vnto thee The royall Prophet had a purpose and a desire to build a house to GOD the LORD was well pleased with his intention and so was delighted with that desire that hee made him a sure n 2 Sam. 7. 16 house hee established the same and his throne for ever Comfort thy selfe if thou find but a willingnesse and a pronnâ—sse vnto prayer for GOD will so mercifully helpe thee that thou shall practise the same and in his appointed tyme thou shall get grace to o Psal 62. 8 powre out thy heart before him who is thy hope glory and salvation Finally If thou complainest that it is too dâ—fficill and laborious Comforts for these that haue not all these graces needfull for to acquire all the graces necessarie for so holy an exercise as to bee endued with saving knowledge liuely faith true pietie fervent chaâ—itie temperate sobrietie with the rest of these gifts which must accompanie prayer acceptable to GOD This I dâ—câ—are vnto thee that albeit thou can not attaine vnto these benefites in full measure perfectly and in abâ—olute quantitie yet if thou haue them in part in a mâ—ane measure in true sinceritiâ— aâ—d in right qualitie then thou hast good cause of joy and consolation for assuredly the p Psal 125. 4 LORD will doe good to thee that art true in heart hee who loveth q Psal 51. 6 trueth in the inward affections will giue vnto thee an ample commendatioâ— Behold r Iâ—hn 1. 47 a true Israelite he will giue to thee a gâ—eat recompence his Å¿ Revel 22.12 reward is with him hee without doubt will increase t Col. 2. 19 thee with the increassing of GOD he will make thy good workes u Revel 2. 19 moe at the last then at the first He will augment his benefits and multiplie his gifts if so bee that with the true beleevers thâ—u
the LORDS owne house and there to beg his favour and blessing with earnestnesse with all humilitie and submission that hee may receaue mercie grace and consolation Not thinking that the Church will make his prayers more holy and acceptable but that in such a place hee shall haue fitter occasion and moe motiue of servent supplication As also that the conjunct prayers of the faithfull in a sweet harmonie sent vp to our Heavenly Father will bee more powerfull and effectuall to procure a blessing For if f Math 18. 19 two sayeth our Saviour agree vpon earth any thing whatsoever they desire it shall bee given them of my Father which is in Heaven And an Ancient saith Non aeque exoras cum solus Dominum obsecras atque cum fratribus tuis â—st enim in hoc plus aliquid videlicet concordia conspiratio copula amoris charitatis Thou doest not alike obtaine thy desire when alone thou prayest the LORD as with thy brethren for in this there is some more namely concord conspiration a coniunction of loue and charitie Quod quis apud seipsum precatus accipere non poterit hoâ— cum multitudine precatus accipiet Quare quia etiam si non propria virtus tamen concordia multum potest That which one within himselfe praying could not obtaine praying with a multitude hee shall receiue the same wherefore because albeit his proper vertue availeth not yet concord availeth much Thus in the dayes of M. Aurelius when the whole Romane armie was in great danger and extreame necessitie through thirst Vide histor Magdeburg and scarsitie of water the Christian Souldiers with one consent instantly praying so prevailed with GOD that hee sent incontinently sufficient raine for the refreshment of their companie and fire-flaughts for the destruction of the adversary The Emperor perceived this clearely and did write the same to the senate immediatly St. Ierome compareth this conjunct praying of the LORDS congregation to an thunder-clap of great noise and Basill to the roaring of the sea of a loud sound Thirdly touching the tyme of Circumstance of tyme. prayer let vs hearken the holy Scripture Christians ought g Luke 18. 1 alwayes to pray and not to waxe faint pray h 1 Thess 5 17 continually continue in i Rom. 12. 12 prayer againe continue k Colos 4. 2 in prayer and watch in the same furthermore in l Philip. 4. 6 all things let your request bee shewed vnto GOD in prayer and supplication More particularly let it be thy first care with David m Psal 5. 4 in the morning to direct thy prayer vnto GOD and to waite vpon his blessed Majestie to n Psal 57. 9 awake right early to pray and to praise GOD duetifully Euening o Psal 55. 17 and morning and at midde tyme of day to make a noise As vnder the Law GOD commanded his people to p Exod. 28. 38 present vpon his Altar a continuall offering and to offer a dayly morning and evening sacrifice a lambe of a Pray in the night yeere old So the LORDS servants in the new Testament should at the least send vp their morning and evening sacrifice of prayer yea in the night tyme they will call vpon the LORD fervently and protest with the Prophet With n Isaiah 26. 9 my soule haue I desired thee in the night and with my spirit within mee will I seeke thee in the morning And with King DAVID My o Psal 63. 6 soule shall bee satisfied with marrow and fatnesse and my mouth shall praise thee with joyfull lippes when I remember thee on my bed and when I thinke vpon thee in the night watches Againe p Psal 11â— 62 At mid-night will I arise and giue thankes and to pray to GOD because of his righteous judgement But in this place thou must be advertised that the error and heresie The Euchites condemned of the Euchites who thought that wee should doe no other thing at all neither exercise any calling but pray ever neglecting all other labour is to be eshewed Let it bee thy chiefe care and indevoure with Enoch q to walke with GOD to liue conscientiously and godly with Abraham r Genes 5. 22 to walke before GOD to liue vprightly and with David Å¿ Genes 17. 1 to set the LORD alwayes before thee and that t Philip. 1. 27 thy conversation be alwayes as it becommeth the Gospell of CHRIST IESUS Fourthly As for thy gesture and behaviour in tyme of prayer The circumstance of gesâ—ure it is free to thee in thy owne option and power so it be with decency and reverence thou may prostrate thy selfe and fall downe vpon thy face So did Moses u Numb 16.22 and Aâ—ron when they did pray for the safetie of the congregation of Israel So did Ioshua x Iosh 5. 14 when CHRIST tolde him that hee was come as a Captaine of the LORDS Host So our Saviour y Math. 26. 39 when his soule was heavie in His great agonie Thou may stand vp vpon thy â—eete thus did the servant z Genes 24.15 of Abraham Thus did CHRIST a Iohâ— 11 41 also this likewayes did the b Luke 18.3 Publican in the Temple Thou mayâ—st humâ—le thy selfe and bow thy knees as c 1 King 8. 54 Salomon as d Act. 7. 6 Steven the Martyre as St. e Act. 26 â—6 Paul as the f Mark 1. 40 Leper as our blessed g Luke 22. 41 advocate and Redeemer Thou mayest lift vp thine eyes to Heaven as h Psal 121. 1 passim David in many places as CHRIST i Math. 14 1â— alibi Himselfe the paterne of all godlynesse And albeit some were of such a foolish opinion that kneeling in tyme of devotion was and is onely vnlawfull and that standing in that service is onely acceptable Yet Agnoclytae Damascen de haeresia thou will bee soone perswaded if thou bee truely informed that a k Psal 51.17 contrite spirit a broken and a vpright heart shall never bee despysed whatsoever thy behaviour bee before GOD who is the searcher of all heartes OF THE SIGNES OF PRAYER The Ninetenth Chapter BEcause a great number of people is thus miserably deceived who doe imagine in their owne conceat that they pray to GOD duetifully and acceptablie when as notwithstanding seeing they a Prover 28.9 turne away their eare from hearing of the Law their prayer is abominable Therefore in the last place let vs briefly consider some sure signes and true tokens whereby a Christian may know assuredly if hee prayeth to GOD arightlie I reckon fiue of them principally First Heavenly wisedome and Wisedome discretion for if according to Salomons saying Hee b Prover 13.20 that walketh with wise men shall bee wise much more he that often walketh and talketh with the most wise GOD shall attaine to true wisedome and vnderstanding c Psal