pleasing paths of irreligious atheisme and ungodlinesse Let sottish and secure yea all corrupt and carelesse Christians seized upon and seduced by Satan sensually sleight this serious service using it as a matter of no moment and as a customary complement cursorily mumbling over a few words when they have nothing els to do or pattering over some certaine sentences dreamingly betwixt sleeping and waking Let deluding and deceiptfull dissemblers preposterously pretermit this pious performance to our Father in secret practising it only proudly pharisaically in publike to be seen of men as an engine to scrue themselves into peoples affections as a stalking horse to catch and inclose popular applause and as a ladder to mount themselves aloft that they may seem to be men of singular and surpassing devotion Thus manifesting themselves in the judgment of S. Chrysostome men dead in sinnes and trespasses and not well in their wits his words are these Whosoever doth not pray unto God daily neither doth desire Tom 5. de prâ—cat to use this heavenly communication it dead and doth wholly want soule and sense for that is the greatest conjecture of foolishnesse and unsensiblenesse seeing that the noblenesse of the dignity of this is not knowne seeing that prayer is not loved seeing that it is not esteemed the death of the soule not to honour God by prayer for as this our body I weene when the soule is absent is dead and stinking so the soule except it doth raise up it selfe to prayer is dead miserable and stinking And that we are to judge it more grievous than death to be berearved of prayer The Prophet Daniel teacheth us who was more willing to die than to be hindered three dayes from prayer for neither did the King of the Persians command to do any thing against piety but did endeavour to get a rest of three dayes when therefore I see any to faile from the exercise of prayer neither to be delighted with a vehement and earnest love hereof I know for a surety forthwith that nothing honourable or pâ—ssing excellent is possessed by him And these his sayings are autheâ—ticall and of avowable authority being consonant to that â—â—erring ca 〈…〉 of soveraigne and absolute authority the Word of God this openly publishing and proclaiming such perverse and prophane persons to be those fooles who say in their heâ—rts there is no God workers of iniquity which have no knowledge they not calling upon the Lord Psal 14. 1 4. and therefore godlesse and irreligious Atheists To cast off the feare of God Iob 15. 4 therefore they have forsaken the Lord which is an evill and biâ—ter thing Ier. 2. 19. and therefore the Lord will come to them to judgement and be a swift witnesse against them Mal. 3. 5. To want the spirit of grace Zach 12. 10. or the spirit of adoption Rom. 8. 15. and therefore not to belong to Christ Rom. 8. 9. 2. Yet let us fellow Christian souldiers Pray First But to whom should we pray God onely blessed for ever ought to bee the object of our prayers minely Father Son and Holy Ghost 1. For hee onely is omniscient searching and trying the hearts and reines and therefore he onely can discerne and distinguish whether our prayers be sincere sound and from the heart or not Ier. 17. 10. 2. For he only is omnipresent at all times and in all places Psal 139. 7. to heare the suites and supplications of all pious petitioners 3. For he onely is omnipotent able to give and grant whatsoever we ask to gratifie and glad those which pray unto him Gen. 17. 1. 4. For he onely is the object of our faith Ioh. 14. 1. therefore of our prayer Rom. 10. 14. 5. For religious worship is due onely to him Deut. 10. 20. Mat. 4. 10. But such is prayer Mat. 15. 25. 6. For wee must pray according to Gods spirit Romanes 8. 16. which teacheth us onely to pray unto the Father Galat. 4. 6. Away therefore with saint prayer 1. Which robs God of that divine honour which is onely due to him Mat 6. 9. 2. Which robs Christ of that office of Mediatorship which is peculiar and proper to him 1 Tim. 2. 5 6 8. 1 Ioâ— 2. 1 2. for hee onely is Mediatour of intercession as well as salvation 3. Which is frivilous and fruitlesse for they can neither heare our prayers know our wants and wishes Isa 63. 16. nor give and grant what we desire Iam. 1. 17. 4. Which is idle and superfluous Christ being a mercifull High-Priest Heb. 2 17. touched with our infirmities 16. to whom we may goe boldly 7. 25. and God through the alone mediation of Christ being reconciled and exceeding mercifull unto us 2 Cor. 1. 3. 5. Which is no where warranted in sacred writ either by divine precept practise or promise all which directly crosse and thwart this Antichristian doctrine And pray we to God 1. Which is the searcher of the hearts and reines Psal 139. 23. a divine spirituall effence declaring unto man his thoughts Amos 4. 13. privie to all our steps and stations waies and wandrings Psal 139. 2. and therefore acquainted with the secret plots and projects of Sathans cursed complices And therefore he knowes how to frustrate their intendments to turne their consultations into foolishnesse or cause them to worke our greater good 2. Who is almighty and all-sufficient for he removeth the mountaines commandeth the Sun shaketh the earth c. Iob 9. 5 6 7 8. for he created all things with his word of nothing Gen. 1. to him nothing is impossible Gen. 18. 14. to him all things are as nothing the inhabitants of the â—â—rth as grasse-hoppers c. Isa 40. 12 17. from him none can deliver Isa 43. 13. Like to him there is none amongst the mighty Ex. 15. 11. Therfore able to defend and deliver save and succour in the depth of danger and from the most dreadfull distresses 3. Who is faithfull standing to his words and performing his promises made to us 1 Cor. 1. 9. 10. 13. Being unchangeable Iam. 1. 17. and alwaies the same Therefore ready to performe all his promises made for our protection preservation and the like Secondly To this God therefore let us pray For what 1. Not for such things in generall which are against Gods glory the good and edification of Gods Church or the salvation of our owne soules and bodies 2. Not for such things which are noisome and nought being evill by nature or accident Such was the petition of the Israelites to Samuel for a King 1 Sam. 8. 5. To the Lord for flesh Psal 78 30. 3. Not for things unseemely for God to grant or contrary to his nature 4. Not for things already obtained and enjoyed except 1. To have those good things in possession which wee have already in perswasion re which wee have spe 2. To have those in fuller measure which we have already in some part 3. To have that inuse which we have
judgement knowledge or comfort life strength and health 2. The Lord will guide their wayes and direct their thoughts and counsels 3. The Lord will comfort them in all their afflictions tribulations and persecutions 2. The Lord is their shield or safety protection and preservation A shield he is not artificiall naturall or politicall but morall spirituall celestiall soveraigne sure and sufficient Shielding these fore-named by his mercy and favour Psal 5. 12. 61. 7. By his powerfull right hand Psal 18 35. By his omnipotent arme Psal 44. 3. By his faithfull truth Psal 91 4. And by his grace 2 Cor. 12 9. He is their shield to beare off the bitter blowes beat back the direfull darts breake the furious force of and to cover shadow and save from the empoysoned stings of the diabolicall assaults of their implacable and hellish adversaries The Lord is their shield preserving them from destruction delivering them from danger and distresse so that no weapons of the wicked nor darts of Satan can harme or hurt them this their Shield being sure sufficient present and perpetuall Great therefore is their happinesse in this regard for having God their shield they have 1. The most bright and glorious shield which doth not onely delight but also dazzle the eyes of those that do behold it 2. The most ready shield alwayes at hand to help succour and save them 3. The most durable and lasting shield which cannot be wasted or worne out 4. The strongest and surest shield which will never shrink 1. Earthly shields can save the body onely this both body and soule 2. Earthly shields save and shelter from bodily darts onely this from spirituall also 3. Earthly shields save and shelter from some kinds of bodily dangers this from all The Lord will give them * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to pitie Noah found grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gen. 6. 8. that is grace or mercy Gen. 19. 19. Thy servant hath found grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grace Take the word for the actions of assisting grace as namely preservation conservation and protection Take the word for faith and repentance which amongst saving graces are the most principall They being more often more earnestly and more universally urged and inforced than any other in the Prophets by Iohn Baptist our Saviour and his Apostles Take it for those greatest works of grace wrought together at one instant namely union with Christ adoption justification conversion Take it for those other principall graces of saving knowledge joyned with faith John 17. 3. Regeneration Iohn 3. 5. Spirituall regiment Rom. 8. 14. Repressing ill motions Gal. 5. 17. Stirring up good Isa 11. 2. Which are the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. Amongst the which these are in number of the best sc an utter dislike of sinne because it is sinne Rom. 7. An hungry desire to be at unity with God in Christ Psal 4. 6. And the gift of hearty prayer Zach. 12. 10. Rom. 8. 26. Sound and saving comfort in distresse as in outward calamities and trouble of conscience Rom. 5. 2 3. Inward spirituall sound and saving strength to do the waightiest duties of a mans calling as are these and such like following 1. At the sight of his sinnes to lift up the hand of faith to heaven and to catch hold of Gods mercy in Christ 2. In time of temptation to resist the same being as hard a matter as for drie wood to resist the fire 3. To forsake all for Christs sake 4. To acknowledge Gods providence to rejoyce in it to rely upon it in the want of ordinary meanes as hard a thing to do without Gods speciall assistance as to shake the whole earth Take it for inward or outward grace with God or men which the upright man so farre enjoyes That though he is not gracious with all yet he is with some Though he is not great in favour yet he is in some Though he is not alwayes yet sometime he is more or lesse sooner or later Though nor with men yet with God Take it for all or any of these it shewes that God will honour those that honour him by sincerity and uprightnesse 4. The Lord will crowne the upright man with unspeakable and immortall glory Though therefore they may be abject in vaine mens yet are they most glorious in Gods eyes Though they may be vile in the eyes of vile and wicked men yet are they not in the eyes of all Neither are they altogether base but in part honourable and glorious Nor alwayes contemptible but somtimes sooner or later glorious exalted and honoured yea they shal be made glorious hereafter and exalted above the heavens 5. Lastly the Lord will increase and multiply his blessings upon the righteous more and more so that whatsoever good things the godly want were not good for them to have the Lord with-holding no good thing from them totally finally without a supply if it be good for them 3. Have a continuall desire and a holy unquenchable thirsting after the Word to grow as in other so in this grace of sincerity or truth of heart 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new-borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that ye may grow thereby 1. New-borne babes desire the milkie nourishing breast 2. They desire it without mixture or adulteration 3. So insatiably and uncessantly that though you chaunt and sing to them as melodious lullabies the sweetest voices and most ravishing harmonious instruments can sound by art and nature though you give them golden garments pearles and precious stones crownes and kingdomes yet they regard them not a rush neither are they quieted or pacified without the breast by such golden and glittering promises or performances 4. Whereas the fruition and enjoyment of the same stils their lowdest out-cries and fils their hearts with abundant comforts and contentments which they plentifully testifie by their smiling countenance and other childish toyes expressions of their no little joy and gladnesse 5. By their constant and continuall sucking such sweet and savoury nutriment they grow in comelinesse and courage in strength and stature Thus do we 1. Thirst after the nourishing milk of Gods Word 2. Desire this pure Word without mingling or corrupting 3. Let no inchaunting syrenian songs of worldly delightfull pleasures nor golden offers or enjoyments of earthly contentments slake or asswage your earnest longings after this substantiall sound and savoury soule-feasting food 4. Let the possession and enjoyment of this comfort in the greatest distresses ravish your hearts and soules with unperishable and ineffable consolations Love it unconceiveably beyond expression Psal 119. 97. Preferre and prize it above thousands of gold and silver Psal 119. 72. Rejoyce in it more than in great spoyles Vers 162. Relish it more savourly and sweetly than honey and the honey-combe Vers 103. 5. Desire it labour for it delight in it to get and increase as other graces so this of sincerity or
grave godly and golden-mouth'd Father doth avouch of prayer namely that nothing is stronger than him who rightly prayeth that nothing is more powerfull than a pious man praying That prayers are great weapons yea the fittest weapons have great force yea such that they easily vanquish the Divell The same doth the unerring Word of God averre as authenticall and of allowed authority Exod. 17. 11. When Moses held up his hands Israel prevailed c. Israel ceaseth to conqâ—er when Moses ceaseth to pray but by his prayer they conqâ—er and obtaine the victory Samuels prayer discomfited the Philistines 1 Sam. 7. 8 9 10. The prayer of Isaiah 2 King 19. 4. Of Hezekiah ver 15. and the people of God discomfited the huge and haughty host of the Assyrians ver 35. The prayer of the Church delivered Peter Act. 12. 5. Therefore the Apostle S. Paul being in great danger of his countrey-men the Iewes desires the Romans to encounter them and rescue him not with swords speares and such like warlike weapons but by fighting with God by prayer for his safety wherin lieth more security than in all force of armes by how much Gods power exceedeth all earthly might Rom. 15. 30. And acknowledgeth that the prayers of the faithfull were effectuall and a forcible meanes to procure his peace safety and good successe 2 Cor. 1. 11. Hence was it that when Satan that execrable and exasperated enemy to goodnes grace good actions and godly men diligent to do mischiefe ready to watch and wait for advantages against the righteous restlesse in resisting and busiest in bickering with the blessed people of God when they are best imployed When Satan full of subtilty and sedulity in opposing and endeavouring to overmatch the strongest when I say this bold stout malicious and proud miscreant rigorously resisted Ioshua the high Priest Christ Iesus the Mediatour of intercession as well as of salvation with vehement instancy and reiterated reproofes doth repell and repulse him with prayer saying The Lord rebuke thee O Satan Zach. 3. 2. When he desired diligently to sift and winnow Peter as wheat Christ likewise prayed that his faith might not faile Luke 22. 31. And when Paul was buffeted by the Divell he likewise besought the Lord and obtained that Gods grace should be sufficient for him 2 Cor. 1 2. 8. When Morton Aureliâ—s as Eâ—sebius or Lib. 5. cap. 5. Lib. 3. Antonius Piuâ— as Carrâ—â— was distressed with thirst the Christian legion which fought not onely with weapons but prayer also prayed unto God and presently a great tempest arose in which God gave refreshing to the Romans and discomfited their enemies with lightening which victory obtained by the Christians prayers the Emperour gave that legion the name of thundring legion When Theodosius a Christ an Emperour perceived Sozom. lib. 7. cap. 24. the war to be difficult dangerous because of the numbers and strength of enemies and his Captaines disswasives from fighting in the streights of the Alpes he having spent the night in prayer and received comfortable exhortation to war led out his army in a most fierce war did overcome the enemy being helped from heaven with great winds which were contrary to the enemies Carolus Magnâ—â— is highly commended Carr. lib. 4. as a pattern for all the world in that going to fight standing in the Temple he did commend himselfe the Church and Empire to God and did joyne with all pious people in prayer 3. Prayer is of that force and efficacy that S. Chrysostome cals Tom. 5. Orat. de precat it a well fortified guard the safest fortification a great bulwarke of the Church which cannot be bâ—ttered down on unshaken munition or rampier and dreadfull to the Divell And warrantably for praier is as an impenetrable bulwark which cannot be prejudic'd by Satans pernicious perillous diabolical diteful darts Mat. 26. 41. Pray that ye enter not into temptation It is an impregnable fortresse and tower of defence safely succouring and shielding against the force and fury of the most puissant pâ—ors and policies the extreamest rage and rigom the most barbaroâ— and bloudy combinations of Satan and his hellish complices Act. 12. 5 It is an invincible rampier and irresistable engine recoiling back with redundant and redoubled strength and puissance the malicious and manifold machinationâ— of the most inflexible inraged furious opposers of Gods people upon their owne pates The prayer of David turnes the oracle-like wisdome of Achitophel into foolishnesse 2 Sam. 15. 31. For his counsell was overthrowne and he hanged himself 2 Sam. 17. 14. 23. The prayer of the Iewes lifted Haman upon the same gallowes he had prepared for Mordecai Est 7. 9. pressed him and his into the same pit he had provided for others and turned the keen and cutting force and fury of inraged and exasperated authority upon the heads of their enemies Est 8. 9. The prayer of Daniel not onely mitigated the rage and stopped the ravenous mouthes of the greedy lions but also brought his cruell crafty and malicious accusers into the dreadfull and destroying den of those grim and bloudy creatures Dan 6. 22. 4. Prayer must be joyned to our Christian armour Eph. 6. 18. We cannot furnish our selves with nor fitly use the same with out prayer We must pray for our armour and this our armour must be fitted exercised by praier we must pray for strength courage will wisdome and ability to use it and we must pray for a blessing upon the using of it Pray we must that our loines may be girt about with truth that we may have the brestplate of righteousnesse our feet shod c. and having these we must pray Be righteous and pray Be patient and pray Believe and pray Hope and pray Vse the sword of the Spirit and pray and that we may have these pray Prayer is therefore necessary for us Christian souldiers yea of such importance that we must before the fight pray for armour abilities and assistance to accommodate and make us fit and sufficiently furnished for the combat we must also fight and pray for by prayer we may be assured of succour and assistance without prayer no good successe can be expected We must fight saith Hillarie against the Divell Hill in Psal 65 and his weapons by our prayers and the victory of our warfare is to be manifested by our rejoycing And Prayer is a good buckler saith S. Ambrose Am. Epist lib. 10 1 p. 82. Vse 1. Let therefore the men of this world so busily imploy themselves in the trafficks and negotiations of this life that they neither will nor can spare time from the service of their idoll Mammon for the speciall sacred soveraigne service of God judging this weighty and worthy worke needlesse and unnecessary Let abject Atheists deluded by the Divell that deceiver abdicate and abandon in heart abhorring if not desperately deriding this duty of divine dignity as averse to their palpably prophane though
in possession 4. To have those good things in sense and feeling which we have in knowledge and understanding 5. To have them sensibly which we have certainely Thus of right we may and of duty we ought to pray for that we have Ioh. 14. 17. 5. Not for things altogether impossible and for ever to be obtained namely such which are contrary to Gods everlasting and unchangeable decree as for example 1. To have Christ and Antichrist made friends 2. To obtaine life without death the crowne of immortâ—lity without the Crosse Act. 14. 22. 3. To have sin pardoned without faith and repentance Luk. 13. 3. 4. To have salvation or glorification without or before sanctification and grace Heb. 12. 14. 5. To know the times and seasons which the father hath put in his own power Mar. 13. 32. Act. 1. 7. 6. To prevent or put off the appointed time of death Iob 7. 1. Mar. 13. 32. Not but that a man may and ought to pray for many things which cannot be had in this life as namely whatsoever good things God hath promised to his Church and chosen namely we may and ought to pray 1. For the fullnesse of Gods grace and spirit 2. For the perfection of those graces which are begun in us 3. For the utter abolishing of Satans kingdome of Antichrist Heresie Idolatry 4. For the universall establishment and flourishing estate of Gods Church Truth Gospell Religion 5. For answerable obedience to Gods will in earth and in heaven in men and in Angels which though it is impossible for a time yet not for ever neither in all respects though in some Phil. 3. 12 15. But for things needfull profitable possible lawfull good and holy we must pray Mat. 7. 11. Some of them absolutely namely such which tend to Gods glory 1 Cor. 10. 31. and our owne and others salvation as for hope faith remission of sins and such like Some of them onely conditionally namely so farre forth as the enjoyment and possession of them may be to the glory of God the good of the Church and our owne thus for health wealth peace riches children and such like not necessary but secundary yet good blessings 1. Want we wisedome whereby to consider our latter end Deut. 32. 29. To shun every evill way Pro. 2. To frame our lives according to the Word of God 2 Tim. 3 5. To live precisely Ephes 4. 15. To improve all occasions of doing good Col 4. 5. Pray 1 King 3. 9. Psal 90. 12. Iam. 1. 5. Doth any want wisdome let him ask c. 2. Would wee have the creatures of God and all our courses sanctified seasoned and sweetned to us that in the use of them Sathan may not surprise and supplant us Pray 1 Tom. 4. 5. every creature of God is sanctified by the Word and prayer 3. Would wee have remission of sinnes and the same certainely assured to us and thereby our reconciliation with God Pray Hos 14. 2. Turne unto the Lord and say Take away iniquity and receive us graciously Mat. 7. 7. 4. Would we be sufficiently fortified and furnished against the force and fraud and fury of all infernall fiends yea so that although they sift us our faith may not faile although they buffet us Gods grace may bee sufficient for us Pray Luke 22. 31. I have prayed c. 2 Cor. 12. 8. I besought c. 5. Would wee bee furnished with the spirit of the Lord the spirit of wisdome understanding the spirit of counsell and might Isa 11. 2 Pray Luk. 11. 13. How much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that aske him 6. Would we remove judgements inflicted or prevent them being threatned Pray Iam. 3 13. Is any afflicted lot him pray Ieremy 26. 19. Hâ—zekiah be sought c. 7. Would we have the power and predominance of sin and the same subdued and suppressed in us and our corruptions conquered Pray Psal 9 13. Cleanse me from secret sinnes keepe me that presumptuous sins prevaile not over me 119. 133. Let not any iniquity have dominion over me 8 Would we have our daily wants supplied or recompensed to us Pray Iam. 1. 5. If any lacke c. and it shall bee given him 9. Would wee have our whole life continually sanctified and wee comfortably prepared for a better Pray Phil. 1. 19 20. 10. Would we preserve cherish and strengthen all spirituall graces in us Pray Col. 1. 9 We do not cease to pray and desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdome and spirituall understanding 11. Would we obtaine and enjoy and good Pray Ioh. 16. 23. Whatsoever you shall aske the father in my name he will give it you Secondly This is a soveraigne salve for every sore 1. It stopt and stayed those many dreadfull and distressing plagues in Egypt 2. It tooke away and turned the contagious incurable leprosie of Miriam into perfect sanity Num. 12. 13. 3. It effectually healed the weake and withered hand of wicked Ieroboam 1 King 13 6. 4. It restored Publius to former health when he lay sick of a fever and of a bloudy flixe Act. 28. 8. Thirdly This hath effected and brought to passe wonderfull and extraordinary things 1. It hath obtained victory in battell 2 Chron. 14. 11. 20. 6. 2. It caused those two great lights in the firmament which continually run with incredible swiftnesse and celerity to stand still Iosh 10. 13. in the midst of heaven about a whole day that Gods people might be avenged of their enemies 3. It occasioned the solid and stable earth to shake as a signe and testimony of Gods love and favour of his loving and gracious presence to his children Act. 4. 31. 16. 26. 4. It quenched that raging and furious fire which was kindled by the fierce anger of the Lord by meanes of their sinnes and wastingly consumed the people in Taberah Numb 11. 3. Fourthly This is of extraordinary efficacie and power in all things as an Vnicornes horne to expell and take away the pollution and poison the harme and hurt from every thing a Physitian in sicknesse in every strife a Lawyer Fiftly This is of such force and strength that nothing is or can bee more powerfull it prevaileth over men over Angels Hos 12. 4. over Divels Matth. 17. 21. and with God 2 Kin. 20. 3. Sixthly This is a sure messenger which will not cannot be hindred a sure friend which will never faile and a puissant prevailer in the courts of heaven Zach. 13. 9. Lament 3. 56. Matth. 7. 8. 1. For the Lord our God is a hearer of prayers if pious and rightly performed Deut. 4. 7. Psal 65. 2. O thou that hearest prayers He hath pawn'd and plighted his word and promise which is yea and Amen to grant the petitions of gratious suitors Psal 50. 15. 2. For the Lord Iesus who offered himselfe for us will certainely offer our prayers for us 3. For the spirit of God
carelessely and customarily formally and for fashion only idly or indecently faintly or faithlessely sinfully and not sincerely pray Since God heareth not sinners Iohn 9. 31. neither can abide their prayers who live in their sinnes Isa 1. 15. Since the prayers of wicked men are abomination to the Lord Pro. 15. 8. And if wee regard iniquity in our hearts God will not heare us Psalme 66. 18. Shall wee I say so sleightly superficially and sinfully so carelessely corruptly and unconscionably practise this pious duty of prayer as to displease and dishonour God to disgrace and damnisie our selves and not rather by a serious sound and sincere performance of the same purchase and procure honour to God happinesse to our selves glory to God grace and goodnesse to our owne soules 5. Pray we therefore First With premeditation taking unto us words Hâ—s 14. 2. and powring out our meditations before the Lord Psal 102. 1. As meditation ought to goe before speech in preaching so ought it in prayer also The heart ought to proceede and goe before the mouth in pious performances Psal 19. 14. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart c. Matth. 12. 25. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things As filling goeth before emptying of vessels so the heart soule minde and spirit in prayer must first bee filled with good thoughts motions desires meditations and affections Prayer therefore is no lip labour nor a lasie worke but painefull even a breaking up of a mans heart and a powring out of his soule Whether wee pray or preach saith one wee ought not to come wildly and unadvisedly to those sacred workes beating the a 〈…〉 with empty words and seeking our matter up and downe as Saul his fathers asses but furnished and prepared to our businesse with sufficient meditation I never shall perswade my selfe that the exactest industrie which either tongue or pen can takâ— in the handling of his workâ—s can displease God Have we therefore such fore-hand thinking meditations which concerne 1. Our miseries pressures and distresses 2. Our manifold sins and iniquities occasioning the same yea deserving all Gods judgements threatned or inflicted That from these two may flow contrition for sin hatred and indignation against the same 3. Gods anger arising of them and his strict justice provoked by the same these meditations procuring and producing feare dread and reverence of the divine Majesty 4. Gods mercifull promises and gracious properties these forcing and filling the faithfull and feeble soule with faith hope joy and comfort Psal 77. 6 7 8. Secondly With those necessarie ingredients of purity Society of Saints p. 141. c. for tainted affections will marre good Orisons of which I have spoken in my Discourse of the Society of Saints Thirdly And with a dutifull and diligent marking and observing the fruit and event of our prayers not dealing with our petitions as fooles and children doe with stones and such like toyes darting and slinging them into the ayre not regarding what becomes of them or how they fall But like wise and wary suiters in Kings courts who oft renue againe and againe their petitions and alwaies waite and expect whether they shall speed And if not why 1. That not finding such desired successe as wee wished and expected our prayers not prevailing as we supposed we may imitating the Saints of God in like case 1. Be feelingly sensible of such repulse and mournefully grieve and sorrow for the same Psal 28. â— least if thou hearâ— not I become c. 2. Submissively discusse and humbly desire to know the cause of the Lords forsaking us Psal â—2 1. My God my God why c. 3. Diligently siâ—t our selves and search out the cause with Saul imitable in this why God doth not graciously answer us 1. Sam 14. 28. 4. Resolutely resolving to renounce and for ever to relinquish that make-bate betweene God and us though it be a darling delightfull Ionathan 1 Sam. 14. 39. 5. And having found out this troubler of our peace and hinderer of our prayers mortifie the same without mercy or compassion v. 44. Iosh 7. 25. Thus searching and trying our waies as to turne againe to the Lord Lament 3. 40. And that perceiving by experience our poore petitions and weake prayers to find gracious and favourable acceptance at the throne of grace and to have prospering successe we may be instigated enlivened and inflamed 1. To glorifie and give honour to our good and gracious God Psal 50. 15. 2. To forsake and for ever to abandon the service yea slavery of sin and the Satanicall society of sinfull sonnes of Beliall Psal 6. 8. the profest enemies of the Lord Iehovah 3. To love the Lord who hath beene so favourable as to heare our voice and our supplications Psal 116. 1. 4. And to be more resolute and ready to pray good pay encourageth to worke cheerefully and constantly Liberall and bountifull benefactours win and allure constant and continuall cravers The Lords readinesse to heare did animate David and should us likewise to persist resolutely and constantly in prayer Psal 116. 2. SECT 2. Why we should pray for Kings and all that are in authority and for what why for Pastours and for what why for our Children and why also for enemies THus pray we not onely for our selves but also for all men 1. Tim. 2. 1. namely which are capable of such gifts graces and good things which we pray for Three sorts are uncapable of the graces Gods people petition principally for To wit The damned in hell The dead in Christ and the desperate impenitent sinner who sins the sin against the Holy Ghost and therefore these are not to be prayed for 1. The damned are capable of no grace no good no mercy no favour Dives desired but one drop of water to comfort and coole his tongue burning and broiling in those intollerable and infernall flames and could not obtaine so small a favour 2. The dead in Christ are destitute of no grace goodnesse freedome favour honour or happinesse they enjoying to all eternity such and so many glorious blessednesses that the heart of man cannot conceive or imagine much lesse can the tongue of men and Angels expresse and declare the same To pray for the first sort of these is frivolous and fruitlesse To pray for the latter is needlesse and unnecessary and impossible to doe good to either To pray therefore for either is sinfull and unlawfull because unnecessary and unprofitable because it is not of faith for faith and every article of faith must be grounded upon Gods Word and Canonicall Scripture But to beleeve that the dead are to be prayed for is not grounded on the sacred Word of God there being in the Canonicall Scripture to warrant the same neither Testimony or precept Example or practise Promise of reward nor punishment threatned for the neglect thereof Therefore such prayer is Impious because no where
of judgement heart tongue and action is this girdle wherewith the Christian souldier must be girded And all these must concurre to make up the strength and beauty of the same Without the first we run into absurd opinions erronious heresies Without the second we are guilty of grosse damnable hypocrisie odious abominable to God and good men Without the third men are but loth some lyars speaking against their mindes consciences And without the last diabolical deceivers and odious dissemblers But by the first our opinions are seasoned and made sound By the second our affections are reformed and rectified By the third our communication is ordered and directed By the last our conversations are guided and governed All which conjoyned make up the first piece of the Christian mans armour the girdle of truth 1. So great an ornament to the Christian souldiour that it honoureth and graceth him before God man for what greater beauty to religion which the more true the more excellent theâ— soundâ—es evidence of truth what greater ornament to a Saint then truth singlenes of heart winning approbation commendation from God Act. 13 22. What Angelicall eloquence or rhetoricall discoursing so gracefull praise-worthy as to speake truth yea and what doth crowne and commend a man so much as honest plaine and faithfull dealing 2. And such an excellent means of strength that it links holds fast couples other graces of Gods spirit together and so upholds the Christian souldier Nothing so strong as truth to confirme settle the judgement of man Truth of heart was the ground of Iobs courage constancy Chap. 27. 5 6 gave an edge quickniâ—g to Hezekiahs prayer Isa 38. 3. and made David bold to appeale from mens and refer himself to Gods tryall examination Ps 26. 1. Truth in communication flowing from sincerity of heart not any by-respects being in all a mans speeches concerning matters of greatest consequence and those which are sleight and triviall And truth in conversation proceeding from a right ground and extending to all and every action of a man are notable encouragements and strong supporters to pious men Iob 31. 5. And undeniable demonstrations that the heart is a good fountaine the sincerity whereof keepes the tongue from lying and the whole cariage of a man from deceitfull dissimulation This girdle of truth being both beautifull and beneficiall honorable and helpfull adorning and assisting for strength and ornament 1. You who are not furnished with this defensive ornament do you buy it Pro. 23. 23. Buy the truth But what must we give A diligent painefull and constant endeavour to obtaine this holy and heavenly trafique 1. Search the sacred Scriptures diligently frequent the Word preached conscionably with a care to beleeve conscience to obey Is 55. 1 2. hide treasure up the word in your hearts carefully Ps 119. 11. Let it dwel in you pleÌ„tifully richly in al wisdom Col. 3. 16. Let Gods heavenly word be alwaies a light to your feet and a lanthorne unto your paths Psal 119. 105. And your continuall constant counsellours Psal 119. 24. That you may be cleane through this word Ioh. 15. 3. Being purged By the word of exâ—ortation from slothfull idlenesse and negligence in all holy and sacred duties By the word of remembrance from sinfull forgetfullnesse By the word of consolation from dreadfull despâ—ration and diâ—fident distrustfullnesse in Gods mercies and Christs merits By the word of commination from presumptuous and obstinate rebellions By the word of reprehension from open actuall transgressions in word or deed By the word of admonition from inclination unto evill or entrance into the same By the word of confutation from dangerous and damnable errours By the word of knowledge or instruction from spirituall blindnesse darknes and ignorance in those things which ought to be knowne That you may be wiser then your enemies Psal 119. 98. have more understanding then your teachers Ver. 99. And understand more then the ancient Ver 1â—0 And that you may get this truth in judgement the true doctrine of holy writ This being amiable and lovely beyond expression Psal 119. 97. Sweet and luscious beyond comparison Ver. 103. precious and profitable beyond imagination 105. 162. comfortable and cordiall beyond apprehension Ver. 143. This being truth yea the word of truth Ioh. 17. 17. 8. 31 32. Colos 1. 5. It containing the firme and sure doctrine and teaching the true way to attaine eternall salvation So that Would you know what and how to beleeve That will instruct you Would you know how to live That will teach you Would you discerne errours That will enlighten you Would you amend your lives That will perswade and prescribe how Would you find Consolation That will affoord it This being the fountaine of truth from whence flow forth the blessed streames of sacred truth by the Ministery of the Word This being also part of this girdle of truth strengthening and adorning the soule of a Christian as a girdle doth the body of a souldier in warre 2. Consider how vengeance unconceiveable pursues as his proper guerdon the glorying hypocrite He shall not come before God Iob 13. 16 He heapes up wrath 36. 13. And he is most wofull Matth. 23. And how mercy inestimable and ineffable attends the sincere and upright man See one place for instance Psal 84. 11. The Lord will give grace and glory c. Where five speciall prerogatives and priviledges of such men are set downe Two metaphorically Sun and Shield and three other familiarly Grace and Glory and every good thing The Lord who is resembled to a Sun in regard of 1. The purity of the Sun for although there be many compound and mixed lights in the Church yet is there but one perfect and pure although many dimme and obscure yet one onely cleare and without darknesse 2. The singularity and soveraignty of the Sun compared with the starres He being that one and onely originall essentiall and authenticall light and spirituall Sun though there be many secondary and inferiour or instrumentall lights and starres in the Church of God 3. The sufficiency He alone and onely he being able to give sufficient light to the whole Church 4 The liberality of the Sun He and he alone gives light or shine to all 5. The brightnesse for though the Sun be more beautifull bright and glorious than all other starres yet the Lord is thousands of degrees brighter than the Sun 6. The stability For although the light of the Sun be of long continuance yet the light of the Lord lasteth longer even for ever 7. The efficacy For although the Sun have great power over mens bodies and workes upon them both by his light heat and influence yet the Lord himselfe hath greater power over their soules I say the Lord who thus is resembled to the Sun is their Sun that is illumination direction consolation therefore 1. Such cannot want light either understanding
feet to be naturally so nice and tender that if we goe abroad barefoot stones will hurt them thornes will pricke them and perceiving the necessary use of shooes to cover and keepe our feet from such like incommodious inconveniences is carefull to have these members well fortified fenced and shod that he may goe on with boldnesse and courage whatsoever the way be And shall not every souldier of Christ being to passe through a very hard harsh and rough way full of disgracefull reproches troublesome taunts variety of vexations terrible temptations many times full of persecutions by tortures and torments losse of goods lives and liberties and all sorts of afflictions more harsh and grievous to a naked heart and soule then thorneâ— and thistles briars and brambles to bare and unguarded feet be as carefull to have his soule well armed and fenced with the preparation of the Gospell of peace without which there is no possibility of going on much lesse of holding out in that way that so he may not onely dare to adventure into but also endure to hold out in this way so hard and harsh passing with undaunted courage through all the tempestuous and terrible troubles of this malicious and maligning world Thus armed and shod the Lords valiant Worthies in all ages have passed through the piercing pikeâ— of the most outragious opposing occurrences of their many and maligning enemies not daunted with nor dreading but couragiously enduring the bitter blasts and brunts of scornes and scourges of bonds and prisonments of fire and faggots and innumerable sundry kindes of crosses to which from time to time they have beene brought 2. As the want of shooes in such places where they are of necessary and important use and may be had is shamefull and unseemely And as cleane and decent shooes fit for our feet and thereto closely tyed are an ornament docking and adorning our bodies So as the Laodicean Church being poore blinde and naked was wretched and miserable Rev. 3. 17. it is a shamefull and sordid thing for us Christian souldiers who have so long and with such liberty enjoyed the Gospell not to be shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace Whereas these spirituall shooes decâ—e beautifie and adorne our steps and goings making our waies and workes seemely and right Cant. 7. 1. That therefore we may be alwaies really and readily prepared and protected against all the sorts and severall kindes of troubles and temptations 1. So that they never finde us unfitted and unfurnished Ioâ— 3. 25. 2. So that we be not dismayed with their dread nor overwhelmed with their weight 2 Cor. 4. 8 9. 3. So that we be not distracted nor discomfited in the midst and most of them but more then conquerors in all these things Rom. 8. â—7 4. So that our consolations may abound by Christ as the sufferings of Christ abound in us 2 Cor. 1. 5. 5. So that we may be strengthened and enabled to cheare up and consolate others groaning under like burdensome pressures 2 Cor. 1. 4 6. 6. So that wee may stand out to the end to fight a good fight to finish our course and obtaine the crowne of righteousnesse 2 Tim. 4 7 8. Let us be carefull to have our fâ—et shâ—d with the preparation of the Gospell of peace SECT 5. The Christians shield Their shield its excellency necessity and their duty concerning the same THe fourth piece of the armour of righteousnesse is the shield of faith A shield is a defensive instrument of war to award and keepe off the blowes of an enemy having a fourefold use namely 1. To receive and beare blowes and strokes 2. To beate backe darts arrowes stones and bullets c. 3 To breake the force of swords halberds c. â—4 To cover save and shadow the whole body Thus good Magistrates are shields Psal 47. 9. The shields of the earth belong unto God being instruments of safety and defence to the good Thus God is a shield Gen. 15. 1. I am thy buckler Psal 18 2. The Lord is my buckler to those which trust in him Psal 18. 30. Thus is faith a shield bearing off and beating back the fierce temptations of Sathan as carnall confidence presumptuous security distrustfull infidelity and other fierce darts of the world the flesh and the divell I having formerly spoken unto you of this most necessary profitable and comfortable of this first and mother grace of graces most of all setting forth Gods glory acknowledging his wisedome truth power holinesse justice and mercy in another discourse namely of the society of Saints much I will not yet some things I must needs speake of this capitall grace and head vertue First Although many prophane persons and popishly perswaded thinke and say that so much preaching and learning of faith is a let and hinderance to good workes making men carelesse of piety and charity Little considering the certainty of that irreprehensible divine truth Heb. 11. 6. Without faith it is impossible to please God For 1. Vpon whom Gods wrath abideth they cannot please God But Gods wrath abiâ—es upon all mis-beleevers Ioh. 3. 36. 2 Without Christ it is impossible to please God But without faith no man can have Christ Ephes 3. 12. 17. 3. Without Gods spirit it is impossible to please God But without faith no man can have Gods spirit Gal. 3. 2. 4. Without the root there can be no fruit But faith is the root of all acceptable obedience Heb. 11. 4. 5. They who are in the state of reprobates cannot please God But all that have not faith are in that state 2 Cor. 13. 5. 6. They who are dead in trespasses and sins cannot please God But all who want faith are dead in trespasses and sinnes Ephes 2. 1 2. 7. Those whose consciences are defiled cannot please God But all who want faith even their consciences are defiled Tit. 1. 15. Secondly Although godlesse Atheists conceive faith to be some fained fiction or some unnecessary thing for discourse and disputation onely little considering That it is most precious and excellent 2 Pet. 1. 1. 1. In the account and estimate of the most wise un-erring and omniscient Lord Iehovah with whom faith finds favour Mat. 8 13. 15. 28. 2. In the estimation and judgement of the sanctified and illuminated people of God affirming and professing that faith is more pretious then gold 1 Pet. 1. 7. 3. In regard of the giver and doner God himselfe Phil. 1. 29. 4. In regard of the worker Gods sacred and holy Spirit 5. In regard of the instrumentall meanes whereby it is wrought the Word of God Rom. 10 14. this being a most precious and excellent thing 1. Containing in it most pure and precious promises Heb. 8. 6. 2. Being compared to things most excellent and eminent namely A rich treasure and pretious pearle Mat. 13. 44 45. An heritage and thousands of gold and silver Psal 1 9. 111. 72. 6. In regard of the object Christ Iesus
helpes our prayers wee by him crying Abba Father 1. We therefore having the aide and assistance of Gods spirit to frame our petitions we being not able to be our owne Messengers 2. We having the intercession of our blessed Saviour who sealeth our prayers with his owne 3. We having the gracious and gladsome promise of our good God with whom is no variablenesse nor the least shadow of changing 4. And it being the nature of God to heare prayers Prayer must needs be successefull and speeding powerfull and prevailing Say not beloved brethren wicked men and prophane persons Object 1 who never pray prosper and are glad their eyes swell with fatnesse c. Psal 73. For their favours and felicities are but fickle and fading Answ maimed and momentany not needfull and principall onely secondary good things not worth the asking in comparison of the many matchlesse mercies and invaluable favours which God vouchsafes to those who faithfully and fervently call upon him for 1. Admit they are cunning and skillfull men furnished with all indowments of art and nature to manage with dexterity and discretion even to admiration and astonishment the great and weightiest pollicies and imployments of a state like Achitophel wonderfull in such wisedome 2 Sam. 16. 23. To discourse dispute and determine learnedly and profoundly of knotty Elenches and subtill Sophismes of matters Ethicall Physicall Metaphysicall of all created beings having breath or being in the great universall world of the earths center and circumference its massines and magnitude its variety of fruits and flowers mines mettals corne and cattell inhabited and unhabitable places of the seas spatiousnesse and profundity of its storming surges its intricate ebbing and flowing of the number and nature of many if not the most of those supreame starry bodies of the spheres and planets of the first moover the first matter the being of beings and the chiefest good with Aristotle that prime and principall of Philosophers To frame ordinarily as eloquent speech deck'd with all the necessary and garnishing ingredients of rhetoricall oratory as ever did admired Cicero Yet what is all this without the saving knowledge of God and Christ wherewith Gods pious petitioners are enriched 1 Cor. 1. 5. you are enriched in all knowledge c. and abound 2 Cor. 8. 7 Even dung and drosse Phil. 3. 8. 1. That so delightfull and desired knowledge differenceth not from wicked men Mat. 11. 25. 1 Cor. 1. 26. This though deformed and defaced doth Marke 4. 11. 2. That is no solid and substantiall comfortable and cordiall cause of rejoycing This is Ier. 9. 24. 3. That is not life eternall This is Ioh. 17. 3. 2. Admit their bodies were deck'd with beauty and lovelinesse farre surpassing that of Ioseph and Absolom yea of all the formes and faces which ever man fancied or God fashioneâ— were furnished with the strength and abilities of Goliah and Sampson indued with the utmost heroicall fortitude and valour of the worlds Worthies clad with the most curious and costly clothing the art of man can frame or fashion fed with the choicest cates of art and nature and every waies as happy in such respects as heart can wish yet all these are but fond felicities beautifying and delighting onely the tabernacles and temples of their fordid and sinfull poore and pined loathsome and unlovely soules the matter of these tabernacles being base dust earth and ashes the state mutable and the continuance short and momentany for they must bee dissolved and then all their pompe will take her leave leaving them helplesse and unlovely to turne to rottennesse and corruption and their poore neglected soules to never ending and easelesse torments of tormenting Tophet where their worme never dieth and their fire is not quenched c. Whereas those who are sincere suiters and suppliants to the God of heaven Their soules are beautified and made blessed with the rich robes of Christs righteousnesse the saving graces of Gods spirit which are necessary to salvation farre more adorning then all outward ornaments whatsoever Psalme 49. 8. 1 Pet. 3. 3 4. Their soules are strengthened enriched cleansed and fed to life eternall yea so that they live and die comfortably and contentedly and after their earthly tabernacles are dissolved they have a building in heaven not made with hands 2 Cor. 5. 1. Say not beloved brethren many good men have prayed Object 2 as David for his child Samuel for Saul Paul for the removing the messenger of Satan which buffeted him and did not prevaile therefore prayer is not availeable not fruitfull For prayer rightly performed is ever prosperous and successefull Answ 1 either obtaining the thing sued and sought for or ability to want or goe without it 2 Cor. 12. or something else which is equivalent if not farre surpassing David lost indeed the child but the Lord sent him in lieu thereof a Salomon The Lord doth not denie because he differs the petitions â— of his people are not denied because it is the good will and pleasure of God to deferre to give the full enjoyment of things prayed for But the causes wherefore he doth delay our desires deferre and put off our petitions are First Either in regard of the wicked to astonish and affright ungodly men from their presumptuous perswasions of late repentance and their abominable abuse of Gods patience and forbearance and so to make them the more inexcusable at the last day for by this dealing with his dearest darlings the LORD doth manifest that a sleight and slender LORD have mercy on mee or LORD open to us is not availeable at the throne of grace but assiduous attendance constancy and continuance in crying and calling unto GOD Luk. 18. 1. Secondly In regard of his children themselves 1. Sometimes to chasten and correct their wants and weakenesses in prayer as namely their want of knowledge Matth. 20. 22. for they should pray with understanding 1 Cor. 14. 14. Their want of faith Iames 1. 6 7. Their want of fervency Iames 5. 16. Their want of humility Luke 18. 11 12. Want of constancy Luke 11. Their want of obedience Zach. 7. 11 12. Their want of sincerity Psal 66. 18. And so to make them fitter for such favours and mercies they pray for 2. Or to make his gifts more acceptable to us and us better esteeme and more highly to prise Gods peculiar mercies and prayer by which they are procured things dearely bought are dearely beloved things hardly procured are highly prised the rarity of favours makes them remarkable the commonnesse of comforts causeth too often contempt peace after warre a sun-shine day after tempestuous troublesome weather plenty after scarcity how welcome whereas when they have long time continued they are little regarded if not much contemned we too much thirsting after variety and change and loathing too much for the least is too much long lasting benefits That therefore we may not deeme and estimate such blessings to be of course and not of kindnesse
but might the more honour God the giver and highly value the benefits bestowed it is the good will and pleasure of our gracious God to have us waite when wee have prayed for his gracious performance 3. To exercise our graces faith patience hope and constancy are tried imployed and improved by Gods delaying and our expecting These make us cry louder and knocke harder at the gates of mercy and pray more unto our heavenly father Hee holds off to give that wee his fraile and feeble weake and stammering children by often petitioning may by exercise become more expert that his gifts and graces in us may bee more manifested to our selves and others Matth. 15. And because hee loves and likes desires and delights in the prayers of his people As therefore those who are delighted in and ravisht with harmonious melody pay not presently least they should bee gone but deferre to reward the musitians that they might delight them longer Even so the LORD of heaven and earth much delighting in the humble and hearty faithfull and fervent prayers of his people deferres to grant yet so that wee are no loosers by our waiting Hannah Elizabeth and Sarah prayed earnestly and waited long the first had a Samuel the second a Iohn Baptist and the third an Isaack for her staying Iacob wrestled all night and in the end hee got a blessing 4. To prove our faith whether wee will seeke unlawfull meanes by gadding to the witch at Endor or the Idoll of Ekron 5. To make us throughly privie to our owne infirmities that wee may the more heartily embrace his strength 6. To strengthen our devotion towards him for delay extendeth our desires Thirdly Or in regard of God himselfe namely to make knowne and manifest his 1. Wisedome as best knowing what is fittest for us 2. Iustice being offended and correcting us hereby for our transgressions 3. Love denying that wee demand that hee may give us better or when wee are better fitted for such favours 4. Liberty he not being bound but free to give what and when himselfe pleaseth Say not beloved brethren God is not ignorant therefore Object 3 wee need not tell him hee is not forgetfull wee need not therefore remember him of our wants Hee is not carelesse we need not call upon him For Though he is not ignorant yet he will have us tell him Answ that which hee knowes that wee may acknowledge his omniscience and give him that part of his glory Though hee is not forgetfull yet hee will have us put him in remembrance that so wee may acknowledge his mindfullnesse of us and stirre us up to remember his promises Though he is continually carefull of us yet hee will bee often and earnestly called upon and sollicited with our suits that so we may exercise our faith hope patience and other like gladsome graces Say not beloved brethren God hath determined what Object 4 to doe decreed what to give therefore prayer is bootlesse and unprofitable 1. For wee are to walke according to the revealed will Answ of God which enjoynes us often and earnestly to pray and not to peepe and prie into the hidden and inscrutable secrets of the Almighty 2. Though his decrees are not changeable yet wee see and sensibly know that his dealings are changeable in divers things as in turning of blessings into curses c. 3. Though his everlasting decree is unchangeable yet his temporary conditionall decree may be altered 4. Though wee cannot perhaps obtaine the benefit wee desire yet we shall get as good or a better and so be no loosers but gainers But reason and resolve thus or after the like manner 1. Is our GOD so good and gracious as to give good things to them that aske him Matth. 7. 11. Is hee so omnipotent and almighty that hee can doe what hee will Psalmâ— 115. 3. Doth his providence dispose and order all things even to the haires of our heads and the falling of Sparrowes Hath hee strictly enjoyned and straightly commanded us to pray Psalme 50. 15. Hath hee gratiously promised that those who aske shall have seeke shall finde Matth. 7. 7. Is hee so willing to grant that his eares are open to heare the cry of the righteous Psal 34. 15. And is he ready to grant before wee aske Isa 65. 24. 2. Is prayer acceptable with GOD in the courts of heaven 1 Timothy 2. 1 2. Is it availeable even so to admiration that it shields and succours and safe-guards us against the Divell Ephesians 6. That it obtained victories remooved Leprosies cured Plagues recovered health stayed the Sunne in the firmament c. That it sanctifieth every thing takes away the hurt of evill sweetneth all distresses is a sure refuge in time of danger and brings salvation First Then surely wee will not with the prophane praverlesse Atheist neglect this sweet and soveraigne sacrifice of profitable and prevailing prayer for in so doing wee should leave our selves without excuse we should demonstrate an absence of grace and GODS spirit in our hearts wee should loose all faculty of prayer and deprive our selves of innumerable comforts in troubles and of conquests over our corruptions and Sathans conflicts Secondly Then surely wee will not dare to perplexe and persecute GODS peculiar people whose prayers yea whose groanes and sighes are so forcible and effectuall with the LORD of heaven who is both able willing and ready prest to deliver and defend them from the depth of distresses and to execute vengeance upon their persecutours Thirdly Then surely wee will not dread nor bee dismayed with the terrible assaults furious attempts and dreadfull temptations of Satan nor with the frownes furious rage and irefull menaces of his instruments Since prayer is so powerfull finde wee a heart to pray God hath an eare to heare and a hand to helpe Hee heard rebellious and disobedient Israel asking a King Egiptian 1 Sam. 8. Hagar for her scoffing Ishmael Moses his servant intreating Gen. 21. 17. for rebellious slubborne and hard-hearted Pharoah The Prophet praying for cruell contradicting Exod. 7. 8. and contemning Ieroboam And will hee not heare mee 1 King 13. a Saint a Sonne and for my selfe Certainely hee will Fourthly Then surely wee will be carefull and circumspect that wee pray not amisse for otherwise wee may aske and not receive Iames 4. 3. What man except strangely foolish if not strongly frantique knowing that a petition rightly penned or pronounced to his dread Soveraigne was of force to frustrate all his enemies malicious machinations against him to procure and purchase more mercies then his tongue could crave or his heart wish to winde himselfe into and linke himselfe fast for ever in his Princes favour would not prepare to put up the same with premeditation and advisement least by his precipitate inconsideratenesse hee not onely loose all those transcendently excellent expected clemencies and kindnesses but also incense with insatiable rage and fury his displeased Soveraigne And shall we
soules the beauty of old men the Schoolemaster of young men the teacher of the continent which adorneth every age and sex as with a diadem 6. Herby the Saints of God have been and are better enabled to all holy and heavenly pious practises and divine duties Matth. 17. 21. by fasting and prayer 2 Cor. 7. 6. Saint Chrysostome Hom. 15. in Matth. therefore calls it the mother of all good workes the mistresse of modesty and all other vertues the helper of prayer because prayer without fasting is slender and weake for that prayer is strong which is made with an humble spirit and a contrite heart but he cannot have a lowly spirit and a broken heart who eates and drinkes and enjoyes his pleasures whereas fasting adds fervous and force gives wings unto and nourisheth prayer Our Homilies excellently make three ends of fasting The chastising of the flesh To testifie our humble submission and That the spirit may be more servent in prayer 7. Hereby we may be encouraged against Satans execrable exploits and encounters this being a meanes to extirpate and expell the Divell Matth. 17. 21. Vpon which place Saint Hom. 58. iâ— Matth. Chrysostome saith He who prayeth fasting hath two wings by which in flying he is carryed over the windes for he neither doth sleâ—pily gaspe neither doth he deferre neither is he dull or slow in prayer which things many indure but he is more burning then fire above the earth and therefore is made a terrible enemy to the divell The same holy Father calleth fasting our armour and weapons against our adversaries saying They who goe to battaile Hom. 13. in Marke doe diligently furnish themselves before hand he seeth that he hath his helmet if he hath his sword if he hath his speare if he hath his arrowes if his horse be refreshed and that he may fight before hand he makes ready his armour your weapons Serm de uno legislatore Tom. 1. are fastings Againe he saith It is better to â—ast the fast of affection than of hunger The fast of love is better than of necessity Our Saviour saith of Divels this kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting Prayer and fasting do put to flâ—ght the Divels and shall they not overthrow churlish Barbarians The same Father in a Sermon of fasting alledging the same Serm. 2. de â—ejunio Scripture saith Fasting ought not to be terrible to you for it is ordained against the nature of Divels So that if any be possessed with an uncleane spirit and shall behold the countenance of fasting if he were an unmoveable stone he shall be quickened But if thou addest to it the sister of fasting that is if he shall behold its companion prayer with it therefore Christ saith this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting Since therefore it doth weaken and repell the enemy of our salvation and smite feare of such terrour in our enemies where fasting hath beene affected the difficulties of cruelty are released the bonds of captivity are loosed the rights of liberty are restored wholly Since therefore fasting doth resist our adversaries will reject the yokes of bondage and restore the security of freedome wilt thou heare what a safety how great a succour is brought forth to mankind by fasting And since abstinence hath beene a necessary buckler to us before the conflict to resist our wilfull sensualities much more must we desire the helpe of fasting in our fight it selfe to our victory 2 Sam. 11. 12 26. Dan. 9. 3. Esther 4. 16. Mar. 9. 29. Luke 2. 37. Acts 10. 13. 13. 3. 14. 23. This duty of fasting therefore being although not an essentiall property of prayer yet often necessarily to be joyned with and accompany the same as a prime and principall means to protect and safeguard our selves against the asperate assaults and sharpe attempts of our assiduous adversaries and audacious enemies and to propugne and prostrate the fierce and furious fraud and force of Satan and his assistants We therefore fellow Christian souldiers ought to our other pious performances to add and conjoyne this of fasting 1. I do not meane that naturall or physicall fast which is for healths sake and therefore often prescribed by learned Physitians for the recovery and continuing of bodily health 2. Nor that civill abstinence whereby men forbeare meats and drinks the better to accommodate themselves to accomplish some worke of waight or businesse of speciall importance more seriously setting and more firmely hereby fastening their minds to prosecute and effect with greater earnestnesse and forwardnesse the businesse intended 1 Sam. 14. 24. Acts 23. 14. 3. Nor a constrained fast when mens for bearance of food is from a forcible compulsion they would eat but either want meat or appetite Mat. 15. 32. 2 Cor. 11. 27. 4. Nor that Christian sobriety whereby men use the good creatures of God soberly and temperately not so often nor so plentifully as is usuall 1 Cor. 9. 27. Which is pious praise-worthy and profitable for the poore the common-wealth the health of our bodies the good of our soules This deading and diminishing fleshly and filthy lusts bridling and battering down unruly affections and fitting and framing the mind to holy and heavenly duties 5. Nor that spirituall fast whereby we abstaine from sinne Isa 58. 6. This abstinence and freedome from filthinesse and vice as to have our eyes fast from wantonnesse and vanity our eares from fables fraud and flatterie our tongues from wicked words and all evill speaking our hands from godlesse works and gracelesse actions our soules from sinfull thoughts and vaine imaginations ought to be constantly continued in the whole course of our lives 6. Not that miraculous fast whereby Moses Eliah and Deut. 9. 9. 1 King 19. â— Matth. 4. 1. our Saviour Christ abstained from all manner of fustenance for many dayes together without being at all hungry For this fact of our Saviour is not for our imitation we may not presume to do miraculous workes and acts because our Saviour did such Christ was baptized so ought we Christ confuted Satan with the Scripture so ought we Christ lasted so ought we But as we do not therefore desire to be baptized in Iordan as we do not desire to be placed on the pinacle of the Temple to resist Satan so neither in all circumstances Hom. 48. in Mat. must we imagine in our fasting to imitate our Saviour Christ Thus S. Chrysostome saith Our Saviour doth not say his fast is to be imitated although he might have propounded those forty dayes But learne of me because I am meeke and lowly in heaâ—t Neither doe those Papists who presse so much their ungrounded fasts consisting in an abstinence from certaine kinds of meates prohibited by the Romane Church as our learned * Pag. 68. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to â—â—llict the soule with abstinence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—asting nothing at all Bishop White Although they glut