hearts mourn And on this behalf such as bear good will to our English Sion pour out their souls before God in prayers and tears Yet let us not be so peevish children as to throw away what we have because we have not all we would nor wish our selves in Egypt again because we have not as yet the possession of the promised Land Thus to do is the ready way to provoke God to shut us out thence with an Oath and to swear that we shall never enter into his rest Hereby we shall not prevail with God for what we want but provoke him to deprive us of what we have Doubtless if we will act ingeniously and as becomes us we cannot but confess that God hath made our present Rulers instruments of much good to us and the whole Land That we have peace and protection is something there are those that would have swallowed us up quick That we may sit under our roofs in quiet and enjoy our own none to make us afraid is something there are those who would have stript us of all and rejoyced to see us begging our bread from door to door The Saints in the 11 Heb. who wandred up and down in sheep-skins and goat-skins destitute afflicted and tormented would have set an high price upon this mercy That we enjoy the Gospel and have liberty to meet together and worship God in season and out of season is something they would have thought it so who walked in darkness had not the word of God powerfully preached among them and could not without danger repair to those places in which it was so preached In a word that we may if we will have Ordinances purely administred the holy separated from the profane is something they cannot but think so who do remember what a burthen unto their consciences unlawful mixtures not long since were Questionless Brethren these are mercies of no small magnitude We have prayed for them and wept for them and fasted for them and spent much blood and treasure for them and it would be an argument of an heart very much out of frame should we now slight and undervalue them Those blessed Saints that are gone before us and are now in Heaven maintaining an everlasting sabbath would have blessed God while they lived if they had but enjoyed that which we do now enjoy and therefore we have reason to do so too And by way of expressing our thankfulness let us pray for our Magistrates who have been a means of bringing over these good things to us And as for those mercies which we want let us pray for our Magistrates that through their means they may be supplied as for those things that are amiss and out of order among us let us pray for our Magistrates that by their means they may be rectified every stone of stumbling taken out of the way the work of Reformation compleated and the Head-stone of the spiritual Temple brought forth with shoutings crying Grace grace unto it By all that hath been spoken you may plainly see that to pray for Kings and such as are in authority is a piece of duty and no more then what we owe unto them as they are men as they are Magistrates and as they are Benefactors The third and last Reason is this Governors and such as are in Authority have need of prayers their necessity calls upon us to be much in actings of this nature There is not the lowest and meanest Christian who is placed in the narrowest sphere of activity and whose work lieth within the smallest compass but is constrained always but more especially at some times to call in the help of his Fellow-christians and see cause to rejoyce and bear up his spirit with this that he hath a stock of prayers going in other hands that Saints all the world over are praying for him But those who are placed in an higher and larger sphere who have greater work and more publick imployment cut out for them have much more need of prayers Thus Ministers in the Church who are the Guides Overseers Pastors Leaders of the flock of Christ have need of prayers Paul though an Apostle a man singularly learned eminently gifted furnished with a great measure of grace extraordinarily assisted from above yet could not be without prayers and therefore he doth most earnestly beg them in sundry of his Epistles Eph. 6.19 1 Thes. 5.25 and Rom. 15.30 Now I beseech you Brethren for the Lord Jesus Christs sake and for the love of the Spirit that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me Pray for me I say pray for me I say quoth Father Latimer Pray for me pray for me for Gods sake pray for me said holy Bradford Ministers should have a special interest in their peoples prayers for they have great need of them and so have Magistrates too As they cannot be without subjects so neither can they well be without praying subjects that prince is not like to live wel nor raign well not like to do his duty nor to be a blessing to the nation who is shut out of the prayers of the Saints The Head in the natural body cannot say to the meanest member I have no need of thee some way or other it may be useful and serviceable to it Truly so the Prince who is the Head of the Body Politick cannot say to the meanest subject I have no need of thee he that is the foot in that body may go to heaven and fetch a blessing from thence upon him A Prince hath as much need of praying subjects as he hath of grave and â—udicious Counsellers or of numerous and valiant Armies or of strong and potent Navies Nay let me tell you great persons have more need of prayers then any men in the world Great expences do call a good purse and large Revenues to bear them out An Earl or Noble-man must have a greater estate then an ordinary Farmer since he must keep a greater house and live at an higher rate Oh the expences of Princes are more then most men dream of they are continually laying out and so had need that some should be by prayer continually laying up for them But we shall by sundry particulars make this evident to you Princes need your prayers because their employment is great Many men are apt to envy them the Crown because it is made of gold but they little consider that it is lined with care and is heavy enough to make their heads ake It is true Diadems and Scepters are glittering things and they dazle the eyes of those that see them but believe it they make their hands weary that sway them The burden which lieth upon their backs is weighty and so they cannot be without good supporters Diogenes in a tub had more quiet and ease than Alexander in his throne They are full of thoughts in the day and cares in the night their rest is broken while we sleep sound and securely
THE PROTECTORS PROTECTION OR The Pious PRINCE guarded by a Praying People A SERMON Preached at St EDMUNDS BURY in Suffolk Upon the 13 Octob. 1658. Being a Day set apart for Solemn Fasting and Humiliation and seeking a Blessing upon His Highness THE LORD PROTECTOR By SAM. SLATER M. A. Preacher of the Word there Suspicientes in coelum Christiani manibus expansis quia in â—ocuis capite nudâ— quia non erubescimus denique sine monitore quia de pectore oramus precati sumus semper pro omnibuâ— Imperatoribus vitam illis prolixam Imperium securum domum tutam exerciâ—us fortes Senatum fidelem populum probum orbem quietum quaecunque Hominis Caesaris vota sunt Tertul. Apol. London Printed by T. I. for Wil. Fisher and are to be sold at his Shop at the Postern-gate near Tower-hill 1659. To the Worshipful THE JUSTICES of PEACE AND Other Inhabitants in St. Edmunds Bury who are Friends to the Churches Purity and Peace Worshipful and Beloved THe days into which Providence hath cast us are evâ—l because they are days of trouble dark and cloudy but especially because in them iniquity abounds and the loâ—â— of many is grown cold He that considers the mâ—â—strous Atheism and Profaneness of the Age the â—â—ghting of Ordinances Opposition to Truth 〈◊〉 of Ministers notwithstanding the purity of the first the clearness of the second the faithfâ—lness and iâ—dustry of the third must say We are faâ—â— into the drâ—gs of Time England may well 〈…〉 Gods goodness to her in her manifold Deâ—â—â—erances miraculous Preservation outward Peace and Plenty and Gospel-enjoyments God hath not dealt so with all Nations as with her nor with her at all times as now but she hath cause to be ashamed of and blush at the ingratitude wantonness fruitlesness and bad returns of her children Not long since Providence frowned upon us and seemed to threaten the laying of our Vineyard waste by taking away the principle Stake in its Hedge had the Foxes and wilde Boars then broken in and devoured it had been just But in rich mercy the Lord hath again made up the gap and raised up another to stand in the breach What duty you and all owe unto him the following Discourse tells you which was calculated for no â—ther Meridian than yours prepared onely for your Table intended onely for your Direction and Instruction The truth is I judge not my self sufficiently accomplished to walk abroad if my plain dress will please you my Friends and Neighbors at home it is as much as I can promise my self and I can say to Gods glory and your deserved commendation that hitherto you have given very friendly entertainment to my poor labors having learned to rellish plain Truth and to make muâ—h of the simplicity of the Gospel though it be not adorned and guarnish't with the gaudy and flanting words of mans wisdom Indeed your Town is not exempted from the common condition of all great places there are divisions among you under which let you and me groan We have many enemies to the Churches purity and we have some that are but small friends to the Churches peace some that would defile her with their sinful mixtures others that scratch her face and fetch blood with their causeless separations But blessed be God that you have learned to follow peace and holiness and to judge that these two are not inconsistent As for those who are godly but differ from you herein of what perswasion soever they be I shall pray for them long after them and wish that they were like-minded with you and shall wait till God shall reveal this unto them But since there are Divisions among us it would be a wonder if I should not meet with some opposition or not taste of that bitter cup which my Reverend Fathers and Brethren have haâ— so large draughts of nay which my dearest Lord and Master drank deeper of than any though he spake as never man spake I thought the ensuing Sermon had been so harmless and inoffensive as that it might have past without a censure It was not my design neither when I studied nor when I preached it to exasperate the spirits of any my intention was to kindle praying affections in all not to inflame the choler of any one and I hope those that peruse it will think it hath a Dove-like innocency and brings in its mouth an Olive-branch of peace But he that doth not like the Cook will finde some fault with the Provision if the Minister be not acceptable his Sermons will be unsavory I will not say that for this Sermon I have been called A Soweâ— of Sedition but because I there in spake against a lawless Liberty calling it as it is An accursed Toleration I have sate very heavy upoâ— the spirits of some But if this is to be vile I will God enabling me be yet more vile Not that I would call for fire from Heaven upon every one that is of a perswasion different from mine neither is my charity so strait-laced as to have a bosom open to none but those that jump in judgement with me I know Christ prayed that his people might be one as the Father and he are one and that prayer shall be answered because God heard him always but I am apt to think that a compleat oneness and perfect harmony will not be the happiness of the way but of the Countrey I verily believe there shall be a sweeter close among Christians here and that there shall be fewer differences than now if any at all and happy are they that live to see it in the mean while I condemn not every one that varieth from me nor dare I say all are out of the way that do not exactly tread in my steps Questionless we must bear one with another allowance ought to be given in matters controverted und of less moment But what then because flowers of several colours and different sizes ought to be continued and lookt to must weeds be suffered in the Garden Because we may without breach of charity differ about Circumstantials shall there be no hedge set about the Fundamentals Christians can you think it is pleasing to God that the Holy Trinity should be spoken against your Blessed Savior degraded your Publique Assemblies forsaken your Ministers made Antichristian I beseech you consult the Word and your own Consciences and then tell me whether that would not be an accursed Toleration which should suffer these and such like things What would become of Religion if that should be granted Surely the weeds if let alone will in time choak the Corn They need not be watered it is enough for them if they be let alone If I desire they may be rooted out I hope I am no enemy to Church and State neither to God nor Caesar and yet for so doing I am maligned and have been evil spoken of once and again So that being necessitated to vindicate my self and hoping
authority and raised up to eminent place While Princes have their hands upon the Rudder subjects should have their eyes unto heaven while they are consulting and caring for us we should be praying and wrestling for them They are not too great but that a weak Christian may and should carry them in his armes to the Throne of Grace outward advantages do not raise them above our prayers Indeed those that sit upon Christs throne in heaven and are crowned with the glory above have no need either to pray themselves or that any else should pray for them but they that sit upon earthly thrones and are clothed with majesty here will see cause not onely to ask for themselves but to send others also to the Throne of Grace that they may speak a good word and beg for them Nor are they too good for us to pray for David was a man after Gods own heart eminent for piety and holiness yet should the Church bless him in his exploits If a Prince be religious he will be sure to meet with most temptations from Satan most oppositions from wicked men and therefore should be most strongly guarded Though there be a good Ioshua fighting in the valley yet the Amalekires may prevail if the hands of Moses in the mount be not kept up The godliness of a Magistrate doth encourage us to pray for him since we go to God on the behalf of his friend and servant but it doth not give us a Writ of Ease nor exempt us from our duty Nor are any of them too wicked for us to pray for them Nero the Emperor when Paul wrote this Epistle and ordered out this exhortation he was an overgrown sinner a monster a beast rather then a man a desperate enemy to Christian Religion and all its professors yet pray for him saith Paul Good Princes cannot be without prayers wicked Princes stand most in need of them pray for those that are bad that God would make them better for those that they might never back-slide from God for these that they might return unto that God from whom they have already back-slidden Our charity ought to be comprehensive and by our prayers we should promote the welfare both of friends and foes as our Lord and Master gave us commandment Love your enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitâ—fully use you and persecute you 5 Matth. 44. which precept he backt with his own example begging pardon for them who crucified him 23 Luke 34 Father forgive them for they know not what they do Indeed none are to be denied an interest in our prayers those onely excepted concerning whom we can upon good grounds conclude that they have committed the sin unto death the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost which certainly and positively to affirm concerning any man is the most difficult thing in the world and not very far removed from an impossibility In the further prosecution of this Point I shall observe this method 1. We will enquire what kinde of prayers must be made for Kings and all in authority 2. We will shew you what is to be the matter of our prayers or what we ought to pray for 3. We will give you some reasons why we ought to pray for Kings and those in authority and then in the last place make some improvement of the truth in a way of Application Of all which in their order First what kinde of prayers must be put up for Kings and those that are in authority I might give an answer to this question in our Apostles own words in another place 6 Eph. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit Pray at all times to day and to morrow while and as often as you have praying opportunities In the morning sowe your seed and in the evening hold not your hand and so pray all prayers Confession Petition Thanksgiving but we need not go anywhere else for an Answer to our Question since we have a full and satisfactory one in the Text The Apostle here tells us we must make supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks Unto all which we shall speak in their order We must pray for Princes and Governors with deprecatory prayers which are in the Text called Supplications The word in the Original is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which saith Cameron signifieth petitionem opis qua egemus ad avertanda mala a desiring of succor and help needfull for the averting or keeping off those evils and mischiefs which face and threaten us Zanchy saith the word imports those prayers quibus mala deprecamur â—am spiritualiae quà m corporalia tam temporalia quam aeterna i. e. by which we deprecate or desire God to preserve us from evils both spiritual which scatter their malignant influences upon the soul and corporal which molest and are enemies to the welfare of the body temporal which are inflicted in this life and make our way uncomfortable eternal which are reserved for the life to come and make our end miserable in a word these supplications are the calling in of God to be our shield and buckler our fortress and strong tower to keep us safe from what ever and whosoever would deprive us either of being or of well-being Now these supplications are to be made for Princes and Rulers Their thrones do not stand so sure but they may shake Their interest is not so great but they have some enemies Their designs and endeavors never so much for others good but some in their Realms may be desiring and contriving their destruction Though David was a man after Gods own heart and chosen by God himself to be King yet had he a Shimei to curse him an Absalom to rise up against him and thousands in Israel to back him in his unnaturalness and rebellion Indeed very few of their houses are as a morning without clouds Sometimes the Sun of prosperity shines gloriously upon their tabernacles but anon again the day is overcast the heaven is black with clouds and winde and there is a sound of abundance of rain Now it becomes us to labour the preventing of those miseries which threaten them and the keeping off those evils which seem imminent over them and to hold that hand which would sacrifice them and offer them up unto the fury of their enemies When there are any black clouds of trouble hanging over them we should labour to scatter them and blow them away by our praying breath When judgements are breaking in like a flood upon them and that with so great a violence as if there were no hope but they would carry all before them then should we be all Noahs Daniels and Iobs standing in the breach and hindering the Inundation begging God who by his commanding and omnipotent word sets bounds to the Sea to say unto these waves Be still and either to drive them back as once he
them about with songs of deliverance This is proper work for Gods people it becomes them to be their Princes Saviors Darius made a decree 6 Ezra That expences be given to the Jews for the work of the Temple and that they should be furnished with Bullocks and Rams and Lambs for the Burnt-offerings of the God of Heaven But why so See verse 10. That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of Heaven and pray for the Life of the King and of his Sons and if this were to be done for an Heathen Prince in the time of his great prosperity how much more ought it to be done for Christian Princes in the daies of trouble and danger You know when there have been either tumults or rebellions or insurrections at home or any invasions from abroad and hostile appearings against the Rulers and chief Magistrates of the Nation it was the worke of Sheriffs and Officers in the State to raise up the posse Comitatus the Forces and Trained Bands of the several Counties according as need required on the Princes behalf against his enemies Truly when that is done all is not done the greatest part of the work is yet behinde it becomes Christians by prayer to raise up the posse Coeli the Powers of Heaven and to call in the everlasting arms Exurgat Deus Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered But we procced Therefore We must put up gratulatory prayers for Princes and such as are in authority over us Thanksgiving is a part of prayer and it is the fourth thing called for here in the Text The word in the Original is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which signifieth gratiarum actionem pro acceptis beneficiis a giving of thanks for benefits received which is a duty incumbent upon every Christian in every condition for every mercy for there is no condition in which a Christian can be but therein he findes mercy if not comforting mercy yet supporting mercy if not delivering yet moderating mercy if not so much mercy as he desires yet more then he deserves and every mercy ought to be thankfully entertained God cannot be required for yet he must be owned and acknowledged in the out-goings of his goodness We can for all the favours we receive from God pay him no other way and therefore here we should be liberal God doth not call for thousands of rams nor for ten thousands of rivers of oyl surely then none should grudge him the calves of the lips Now as this lieth as a duty upon every Christian thankfully to own Gods goodness in that dew which falls upon his own fleece in those blessings which are reached out to him or his family or relations in particular so is it their duty to bless God for that dew which falls upon the ground round about yea though their own fleece be dry and Providence orders out a more sparing hand to them as to their own private interest And so to come to the business in hand When the Rulers of a Nation have received from God signal and eminent Favors all under them should take their part and joyn with them in a Song of Praise Thus did the Church Psal. 20.5 We will rejoyce in thy salvation in the Name of our God we will set up our banners the Lord fulfil all thy petitions Thy deliverances and conquests and victories shall be our joy thy prosperous successes shall be seconded with our triumphs we will lift up our banners Ingrediemur urbem erectis vexillis we will enter the City with Trumpets sounding Drums beating Colours flying as after an happy and glorious Conquest Thus the mercies and blessings and deliverances which are vouchsafed unto them should be set upon our score and we for them should acknowledge our selves Gods debters paying the interest of praise as if the principal had been in our own hands This is exceeding acceptable to God that Sacrifice savours best unto which every one contributes something then do we make the sweetest melody in the ears of heaven when all joyn together And it is exceeding rational in it self reason requires that we should thankfully acknowledge those Mercies which we taste the sweetness and reap the benefit of Mercies to the Rulers of a Nation are National mercies they have not a private but publick influence The clouds indeed may empty themselves more plentifully upon them but yet some of their drops distil and fall upon the smallest and meanest spot of the Land It is true the Oyl of divine Goodness may be most liberally shed upon the head of a Nation but it doth not stay there no it descends to the very skirts of the garments The same providential dispensation which blesseth them with prosperity doth reach out unto us peace that Mercy which gives our Princes to set their feet upon the necks of their enemies keeps those enemies from setting their feet upon our necks It is true the Cup is put into their hands and they have the most hearty draughts but since every one of us sips of it let us look up Of this more hereafter So much may suffice to be spoken of the first thing What kinde of prayers must be put up for Princes and all that are in Authority Supplications Prayers Intercessions and Thanksgivings The second thing which we are to enquire into is this What is to be the matter of our prayers or what ought we to beg of God for them Some things by way of direction have been scattered already up and down in this Discourse which for your help you may gather together and bundle up But we shall not so content our selves therefore in general we should pray that God would pour out upon them a spirit of Government When Samuel had anointed Saul it is said God gave him another heart 1 Sam. 10.9 that other heart was not a sanctified heart not a renewed heart not an heart furnished with the saving graces of Gods spirit for notwithstanding all his professions and good conversations he was a wicked profane wretch he carried a foul heart under a fair face But God gave him an heart fit for rule an heart endowed with Heroick vertues and Princely qualities Such an heart we should beg for the Chief Governor of the Nation that as he hath high imployment so he may have a raised and noble spirit He that governs a State had need of another kinde of heart then he that drives a plow pray for him that God would give him grace He ought to be religious himself who would promote it in his subjects He is not like to destroy all the wicked of the Land who doth not himself walk within his house with a perfect heart I do not think that Dominion is founded in grace and an irreligious Prince ought to be dethroned I believe Saul was a lawful king though no holy man and Iudas a true Apostle although false to his Master He that hath not grace in his
are of a sweet smelling savour so be it they are offered up with pure hearts and clean hands You need not fear that God will cast these petitions out of doors no no you shall be very welcome when you come upon such errands Christ our Savior is so far from opposing civil Government and earthly Princes as that your praying for them is exceeding acceptable unto him It is our duty to pray for our Rulers and such as are in Authority over us We have a proverb among us Honest men will pay their debts this is no less and though we pray for them fervently with all our hearts and our desires of their good is the common cry of all within us though we pray for them continually and in every one of our approaches to God yet we must say It was no more then our duty This is no matter of choice not left to our selves whether we will do it or no if we neglect it they may put in their Bill against us in Gods Court and recover damages Prayer is a debt which we owe unto our Governors upon a three-fold account First we owe it unto them as they are men The Apostle here would have prayers made for all men for men of all Nations Jews and Greeks Barbarians Scythians men of all sorts whether they be high or low rich or poor honorable or base good or bad yet as they are men pray for them For all men even your enemies that hate you and persecute you and speak all maner of evil of you and do all maner of mischief to you For this we before gave you Christs precept and pattern let me shew you how others of the Saints being acted by the same spirit have done the same thing Moses stood up in the gap for those that shewed little love to him The children of Israel murmured against him and Aaron Numb. 14.2 yet he prays for them verse 19. Pardon I beseech thee the iniquity of this peoâ—le according unto the greatness of thy mercy Miriam and Aaron speak against him Num. 12.1 yet if she be leprous he will desire God to work a cure verse 13. He cryed unto the Lord saying Heal her now O God I beseech thee The ungrateful Israelites reject Samuel were weary of his Government chose them another Head yet he will wish them well still if he may not exercise the power of a Prince he will not fail in doing the office of a Priest if he may not give Laws to them he will put up Prayers for them and give wholesom instructions to them he will be their Counceller if not their Commander 1 Sam. 12.23 God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you but I will teach you the good and the right way Though Davids enemies rejoyced in his adversity yet when the wheel was turned when Providence favored him and frowned upon them he was so far from trampling upon them down as that he could run to God for them so far from rejoycing in as that he had tears to shed over their calamities 35 Psal. 13 14. As for me when they were sick my clothing was sack cloth I humbled my soul with fasting and my prayer returned into mine own bosom I behaved my self as though he had been my friend or brother I bowed down heavily as one that mourneth for his mother Stephen was earnest with God for his persecutors Lord lay not this sin to their charge Thus we should pray for al men though wicked though haters of God though enemies to us yet they are men Men who were made for the enjoyment of and communion with God and if they be strangers to it the more to be pitied and prayed for Men whose hearts are in the hand of the Lord so that he can turn them as the rivers of water Men who may for ought we know belong to the election of grace and so in due time be effectually and savingly wrought upon For God hath his number among the worst and Divine Grace loves to shew it self omnipotent in conquering the greatest proudest and most stubborn enemies Thus pray for all men Princes are but men and therefore pray for them Secondly We owe it unto them as they are Magistrates Men in place of Power and Authority there is not the meanest servant in a family not the Groom in the Stable the Scullion in the Kitchin but he should be cared for provided with necessaries when well and lookt after when sick but all in the house one and other should contribute towards the good and advantage comfort and contentment of him who is the Master thereof If he be ill the whole family suffers and is out of order and therefore they do all desire his recovery and are willing to run and go thinking no pains too much for him And so it is in the natural body there is not the meanest member but it shares in the care of the other members if one member suffer saith the Apostle all the members suffer with it but they will all much more joyn together and unite their forces and act for the good and welfare of the Head So it is in a nation the Body Politick the meanest and lowest persons in it should be prayed for and their good should be studied and promoted you do or at least should look after the poor in your parishes who live upon alms whose miseries are not felt by others whose death would be no loss to others when they being sick and weak put up their Bills in our Assemblies and beg our prayers it is our duty to remember them and to set in with God for them and spread their conditions distempers and wants before the Lord how much more then ought this to be done for him who is the Head of this Body from whom the whole hath guidance direction Thirdly we owe it to them as our Benefactors whom God is graciously pleased to make instrumental for our good and advantage they are the golden pipes through which precious and comfortable mercies are conveyed to us I know this age affords those among us who will not subscribe unto me herein but overlook the mercies which they receive because they do not like the hand by which they are sent A discontented spirit possesseth the mindes of too too many which either blindes their eyes so that they will not see the blessings which they enjoy or hardens their hearts so as not to own and be thankful for what they see Very few are truly affected with Gods goodness or truly thankful for National mercies Certainly there is never a gracious and considerate person in England but will readily acknowledge that many things are out of order and for this they groan and wish it otherwise For the divisions among Brethren for the errors heresies and blasphemies that abound among us for the want of an established Government in the Church according to the minde of Christ and for other things good
person Wo to that Land whose Prince is not directed by the spirit of God nor curbed by the fear of God nor constrained by the love of God Wo to that Land whose Prince hath neither grace in his heart nor God in his eye Evils in Princes are the worst and greatest evils because they have the strongest influence if the Pilot miscarry the Ship is lost Thus you see it clearly proved to you that Princes have need of prayers and so have we done with the Reasons and finished the Doctrinal part Give me leave to speak something though but a little by way of Use And here I might justly take up a bitter complaint of and order out a sharp reprehension unto those who neglect this piece of their duty Some out of a profane spirit who spend days weeks and moneths and yeers without prayer they enjoy many mercies but they were never of their seeking If God wil do good to themselves or others he may but he shall never be desired by them How many are there that shut prayer and the whole worship of God out of their houses and closets and they that will not pray for themselves will never be suitors for others if they will not beg their own lives the lives of their souls at the hands of God they will not beg their Princes peace and prosperity But let such men know God hath wrath pure wrath fierce wrath full vials of wrath to poure out upon the Heathen that know him not and upon the families that call not upon his name God doth not heare from them now but one day they shall hear from him yea a terrible sound shall be in their ears and the terrours of the Almighty shall make them afraid Others neglect this duty out of a private spirit who do indeed pray and make conscience of it too dare not omit it but they extend their care no further then themselves their thoughts are wholly taken up about their own private interest They can pray for blessings upon themselves and upon their families but that is all and so things be well at home they care not how they go abroad Paul complained of this in the 2 Philip 21. all seek their own things and not the things which are Jesus Christs the things of Christ are shouldered out and the interest of the Church is not studied self-interest like Aarons rod swalloweth up all other and drowns the glory of God and the publique good but this spirit is below a man Heathens will condemn it It is said of Cato that he did toti genitum se credere mundo look upon himself as born for the whole world the care of the Community lay upon him This spirit is below a Christian and unworthy of the Gospel which teacheth us to look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others Timothy is said naturally to care for the Churches welfare This spirit is hateful to all men he that is wholly shut up within himself is an odious person and the place he lives in longs for a vomit to spue him out In a word this spirit is condemned by reason it self what dost thou think will become of thy Cabin if the Ship miscarry It is not like thy Closet should stand when the house is burnt down Others there are who utterly lay aside this duty out of a froward and discontented spirit who like Flies feed upon the sores of Magistrates thereby hindering a cure but will not go to heaven for a plaister that they may be healed they do not like the hand which sways the Scepter nor the things that are done by him who sits in the throne and therefore they will not so far befriend him as to give him a room in their Petitions They will shut him out of their prayers because they cannot approve all his doings and yet they may finde fault where there is none and look upon that with an evil eye which in it self is matter and ground of thankfulness Let persons that are guilty of this neglect from what principle soever they act know that they have little sense of the mercies which they enjoy Were Gods goodness to us in our Governours eyed and the blessings which by them we receive laid to heart and seriously considered of they would work another frame of spirit in you Such as these are small friends to our English Zion the Nation is much beholding to them is it not how can it be thought they should spend their estates shed their blood hazard their lives for the Nation who will not be at the cost of a few prayers for its prosperity I might also tell them that they will have little thanks for their forbearance at the last and that if the Nation miscarry its ruine may be laid at their doors If the wrath of God breaks in upon us like a sea and drowns all it was because you came not up to stand in the gap If God departs from England and carries his Gospel and spiritual and temporal Mercies along with him we may thank you and such as you are he would have stayed if he had been but more desired But I shall wave those things and proceed to an Vse of Exhortation And Let me prevail with you to set you upon this work Oh pray for your Governors and in a more special maner for him whom God hath made Chief over you and by his providence called to the supream place of Magistracy in the Nation God hath been pleased of late to make a sad breach among us taking away from us our former Pilot the late Renowned Protector who when he had fought the Nations Battels carried us thorow the wilderness preserved us from the rage and fury of our enemies and brought us within sight of the promised Land gave up the ghost laid down his leading-staff and his life together with whose fall the Nation was shaken his death covered all the faces of sober and considerate persons with paleness and their hearts with sadness as if Peace and Prosperity Reformation the Gospel all lay drawing on and would be buried in the same grave with him But blessed be God Divine Grace vouchsafed to cast an eye toward us and to visit us in our low estate there is another Pilot placed in his room while he directs the course let us fill the sayls with our praying breath Moses it is true is dead but we have a Ioshua succeeding him let us pray that what the other happily begun this may more happily finish and bring the accomplishment of all your right-bred hopes and what they said to Ioshua let us say unto his Highness According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things so will we hearken unto thee onely the Lord thy God be with thee as he was with Moses Iosh. 1.17 My Brethren let us leave disputing and quarreling and complaining and finding fault our work lies elswhere these proceedings will but roil our
own spirits and prejudice the Nations welfare In times of publick danger and so in times of publick distempers and disorder prayer is of an excellent use it is in season at all times men ought always to pray and not to faint but it is most especially in season in such times Is any man afflicted let him pray Is the Nation afflicted let all pray If the Ship is like to be broken with a tempest then let every one of the heathenish Mariners cry unto his God We are called out unto this work this day our Governors have now put an opportunity into our hands to such a purpose they do invite us to the work they desire and beg it at our hands Let us not loose the price that is in our hands let us not fool away nor idle away nor wrangle away praying opportunities Let us not be deaf to the cry of Englands Necessities nor to the call of Englands Rulers but let us up and be doing and the Lord will be with us You that never prayed before pray now you have been strangers to the work and careless of the Nation long enough already You that have prayed formerly continue your acquaintance with that work still and double your forces now Blessed be God something hath been already done this day among us here and we are not alone there is a sacrifice almost upon every Altar throughout the Nation there are those that be putting to their helping hand and are tugging for mercy let us joyn with them and pull hard God is not yet gone oh pray that he would not depart out of our Coasts We are not yet past hope pray that God would give us to see the desire of our hearts Our disease is not incurable though it may puzzle the wisest men yet it cannot non-plus the infinitely wise God oh pray that God would be our Physitian and undertake for us Our Prince riseth gloriously pray that he might not set in a cloud Our hopes concerning him are great pray that they may not be blasted Who knows what we may do if we would but do what we can grant that there is but a peradventure yet let that prevail The Nation may be lost but let not that dishearten you for it may be saved and let that encourage you Ionah preacht yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown here was great ground of fear that judgement being denounced by the Prophet upon the commandment of the Lord but saith the King let man and beast be covered with sackcloth and cry mightily unto God c. but why so the sentence is gone out hath the Lord said it and shall he not do it nay but who can tell if God will turn and repent and turn away from his fierce anger that we perish not Thus here Our sins are very many our breaches very great God is highly provoked the clouds over our heads are thick yet who can tell but that mercy mâ—y triumph in the Nations welfare who can tell but God may have thoughts of good and peâ—ce concerning us A drowning man will catch hold of any thing for the saving of his life could we see but a spirit of prayer poured out among us I would not question but that God would open the bottles of his mercy and rain down upon us a blessing in abundance I will here lay downe something by way of direction and then by way of Motive and so conclude By way of direction take onely these two things Pray Fervently and Constantly First pray fervently You must fire the Sacrifice if you would have it ascend as high as heaven He will never hit the marke who doth not draw the arrow up to the head Therfore call forth all your powers muster up all your forces all your praying graces all your praying affections and go to the throne of grace as strong as you can It is the effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man that availeth much If the Child do onely wrangle a little it may ly still in the cradle and be neglected but if once it crieth fiercely and cannot otherwise be pacified then will the Mother draw her Breast See that what you desire be good and that your end in desiring it be right and then cry mightily Luther said Vtinam semper eodem ardore orare possem would to God I could alwaies pray with the same Earnestness and Fervency for then I should alwaies have this answer Fiat quod velis Be it unto thee even as thou wilt They that would return Honâ—urably must set out Valiantly wrestling with God is the onely way to prevaile like Princes oh therefore be earnest There are many to hinder and if you would obtain you must be importunate Englands sins do abound and they are as so many middle walls between Gods ear and your Prayers you must cry aloud if you would be heard They lie as so many rubs in the way of mercy lay out all your strength for the removing of them When a Peoples transgressions are many and their prayers are cold reason will tell us that their expectations must neds be low no sacrifice will be accepted but the male in the Flock If you offer to God the Blind and the Lame cold dead formal prayers they are so far from being a sweet-smelling savour as that they are like the Cutting of a Dogs neck or offering swines flesh an abomination to the Lord Let all saith the King of Nineveh cry yea cry mightily unto God We can never thinke that God should be prevailed with by those prayers with which we our selves are not at all affected The Church complains in the 64 Isa. 7. There is none that calleth upon thy Name that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee No wonder If God doth not rise to our help if we do not stir up our selves to take hold of him dull and sleepy prayers are never like to awaken Gods arm But then Secondly pray constantly prayer is the work not of an houre but of a life not onely of a fasting day but of every day It is not enough to send out one messenger to Heaven but we must speed away one after another If a petition be sent to Court and none to follow it it will come to nothing the thing will not be granted he that faints in prayer will fail of mercy When an Army beleagures a Town they do not give over at the first or second repulse nor leave it unless a surrender be presently made but there they lie week after week and storm it time after time and never give over till they are Masters of it Thus when we besiege the Throne of Grace with our prayers we must not be discouraged though we do not presently obtain nor be put out of heart with the first or second refusal but continue the work and renew our requests Shrink not back like cowards in war but stand your ground Prayer must be redoubled and reinforced like those arrows of