Eternity I dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble Spirit to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isa 57.15 Let the comparison between the Publican and the Pharisee remain for ever in our memory Luke 18. The Prayer of the poor destitute the contrite the penitent the bleeding heart is a sacrifice well season'd with the salt of anguish and misery Away with high looks and high words Lord thou dost hear the desire of the humble and dost prepare their heart Psalm 10.17 And God comforteth those that are cast down 2 Cor. 7.6 Put your self back who are but dust and ashes in a great distance from the Lord that you may behold him the better in his infinite greatness And a lowly heart will never spare to deject the body O come let us worship and fall down and kneel before the Lord our Maker Solomon pray'd upon his knees 1 Chron. 6. so did Daniel Chap. 6. so did Peter when messengers came to him from Cornelius Acts 9. so St. Paul For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Eph. 3.14 And not only men upon Earth but the glorious Spirits in Heaven cast themselves and their Crowns down before him that sitteth on the Throne Revel 4. Nay the Son of God fell down upon his knees and pray'd unto his Father Luke 22.41 And Fasting which is a pregnant circumstance of humiliation was much in use with Prayer the instances are innumerous to signifie we had no part in any comfort nor any delight in the Creatures till we were reconciled to the Lord. So was Sackcloth used and all apparel of beauty all ornaments of riches and pride were put off for that time Let them be no more than outward circumstances yet they are significant But that which is a sure companion and most intimate to humility in Prayer is Patience It breaks not away in a pet because it is not answer'd at the first or second asking that 's disdainful and arrogant It holds on and attends and cries till the throat is dry I waited patiently for the Lord Psalm 40.1 And there must be patient continuance in them that seek for Glory and Immortality Rom. 2.7 Faith is the foundation of Prayer and to continue the Metaphor Patience is the Roof The winds blow look to the foundation or the building will fall Rain and storms will descend but if they light upon a Roof that is close and compact they run aside and are cast upon the ground He that expects God's pleasure from day to day will neither faint nor fret that his suit hangs long in the Court of Requests such storms as proceed from murmuring cannot beat through a solid Roof Says Habbak Chap. 2. Verse 3. A great thing will the Lord bring to pass but not presently says the Lord The Vision is yet for an appointed time but at the end it shall speak and not lye though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come Many diseases will never be cured well unless they be long a curing and many deliverances will never be throughly setled unless they be long a preparing and many mercies are hid like seed in the ground and will be long a growing I give God thanks that every blessing of worldly Comfort that I Pray'd for the longer I was kept from it and the more I pray'd for it I found it the greater in the end Observe that there is nothing of moment yea be it of lesser and vulgar size with which the Providence of God hath not interwoven a thousand things to be dispatcht with it which requires time perhaps seven years to finish them Expect therefore from the Divine wisdom to do all things in their order and give honour to the Supream Majesty to wait his leisure For yet a little and he that shall come will come and will not tarry Heb. 10.37 3. The third thing which gives assurance of Comfort to Prayer is Zeal Devotion Fervency which will pluck on Patience further and further For he that is zealous in any thing will not easily give over till he have brought his ends to pass Zeal is a continual and an earnest supplicant it Prays without ceasing 1 Thess 5.17 Prays exceedingly 1 Thess 3.10 Asks with confidence seeks with diligence knocks with perseverance A swarm of Bees that is many thousands must gather into a Hive to fill it with Hony-combs and a swarm of Prayers is sweeter before the Lord than the Hony and the Hony-comb Likewise it is as vehement as it is assiduous labouring fervently for you in Prayers Coloss 4.12 Stir up your wit and diligence and memory and meditations when you come to spread out your wants before your Father but if you yawn out heedless heartless petitions you shall depart with discouragement as it is Psalm 80.4 O Lord God of hosts how long wilt thou be angry with the Prayer of thy people The Laodiceans were lukewarm neither hot nor cold in the worship of God therefore the Spirit said to the Angel of that Church Be zealous and repent Revel 3.19 Zeal is defined to be a vehement and inflamed love There must be an ardour and a flame in Prayer as if we would mount it up like fire to Heaven Then we may say that a Seraphin hath laid a coal from the Altar upon our mouth and touched our lips Isa 6.7 Zeal takes away the Soul for a time and carries it far above us I write to them that have felt it that it darts a mans Spirit out of him like an arrow out of a bow This is it which infallibly begets Hope Comfort Patience all in a Sheaf as they are divinely put together Rom. 12. verses 11 12. Fervent in Spirit serving the Lord rejoycing in Hope patient in Tribulation continuing instant in Prayer The transportment of Zeal will excuse or rather commend some Ejaculations of Prayer which seem to be too bold with God as Psalm 44. How long wilt thou turn away the face from us O Lord and forgettest our misery and trouble So Jer. 14.9 Why should'st thou be as a man asleep and as a mighty man that cannot save us And we do but follow our Saviour's pattern in it upon the Cross My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Tell not a troubled heart that is in anguish tell it not of modesty it is a complement it will not be tied to The Shunamite swallowed up in sorrow for the loss of her child runs to mount Carmel to Elisha and before she said any thing she catcht him fast by the feet Gehazi thought it irreverent and unwoman-like behaviour and laid hold to thrust her away Let her alone says the Prophet for her Soul is vexed within her 2 Kings 4.27 The passions of an afflicted Soul have much indulgence to break out far They are not in good compass till vehemency of Zeal carry them beyond ordinary rule and fashion Mary Magdalen did
the most of our Collects through Christ our Lord. When we bring that Name in the rear and quote him for our Merit and Mediator then I know it will be well and that the Lord will hear the petitions of his servants Should we not put our requests into Christs hand to offer them to his Father Sion might spread forth her complaints and there would be none to comfort her and we might remain for ever in that heavy plight Psalm 77. verse 3. I remembred God and was troubled I complained and my Spirit was overwhelmed But if we renounce our wretched selves and imagine not the least intrinsecal perfection to be in our Prayers do we sail then by the Cape of Good Hope yes because God is contented to yield upon such addresses Jacob may wrestle with the Angel all night and protest he will not let him go till he have blessed him But Victus est quia voluit God was overcome because he would be overcome of Jacob he lets us prevail because he is willing to yield but there is no strength is us to win if he would not suffer himself to be vanquisht There is no other person but Christ in whom the Father I know not what kind of necessity to call it cannot but be well pleased Which made him say before his Disciples Jo. 11.41 Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me and I know that thou hearest me always As it is also Heb. 5.7 Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong crying and tears was heard for his piety This is the preheminence of our High Priest who is an Orator for us all that the Lord cannot reject his Prayers Therefore committing our daily Oraisons to our High Priest to bear them into the Holy of Holies before his Father they are in a sure hand and they that know his Name will put their trust in thee Psalm 9.10 Much more they that know his Office perfectly Wherefore let Prayer carry on these considerations with it That we are invited by God to that duty That the Spirit instigates us unto it and helps our infirmities Rom. 8.26 That it is presented to the Father by the mediation of the Son then how canst thou be sad O my Soul and fear to miscarry Is not the lot fallen unto thee in a pleasant field and may'st thou not promise to thy self a very goodly heritage Without all dispute then proceed unto Prayer and for a beginning 1. Ask in Faith James 1.6 that is attribute unto God that he is Almighty and can do above all that we ask or think Consent to his truth that he is faithful in his promises for he that believeth not those makes God a lyar Acknowledge his goodness and mercy through Christ that He will withhold no good thing from them that lead a Godly life Let there be no wavering no disputing about these Attributes of God lest we be condemned out of our own mouth So much Faith so much efficacy so much confidence so much comfort in Prayer Then will a solicitous Christian reply What will become of me I have not that plenitude of Faith at least in sundry occasions I have it not to ascertain my self that I shall prevail with God No more had Abraham himself a perfect Faith without any flaw Excellent things are spoken of him Rom. 4.18 Who against hope believed in hope and that he staggered not at the promise but was strong in Faith Verse 20. Yet see how he stoopt a little Gen. 17.18 Shall a Son be born unto him that is an hundred years old and shall Sarah that is ninety years old bear O that Ishmael may live God is not extream to mark what is done amiss in every convulsion of Faith which appears Psalm 31. verse 22. I said in my haste I am cast out of thine eyes nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplication when I cried unto thee You must be sure that in general David subscribed to the power and truth and goodness of God but there was a temptation upon him at that time in some particular case in which he distrusted or doubted that there was no likelihood to prevail But if there be such a one that says I will pray but I know I shall be never the better he is an infidel and mocks God in that bad mind he did well to say he should be never the better for he did usurp a form of Godliness and denied the power thereof He is the right Supplicant but a very rare one that hath no staggering or diffidence in his heart that comes close up to our Saviour's rule Mark 11.24 What things soever ye desire when ye Pray believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them Yet the Lord will not cast them off who are but in the next form and do not resolutely promise success unto themselves in the instant of their present Supplications but bear it thus between Faith and doubting whether I shall succeed in this or that I am not confident but of this I am most assured that I shall be the better for my Prayers And I would it were thus and thus because I conceive it would be best for me but I am certain it will be better than the best that I can imagine which the Lord knows to be most expedient Another perhaps may wrangle himself into an error and say How do the Heathen and the wicked obtain good things if nothing will prevail with God but the Prayer of Faith Consider that even a Pagan and Idolater would ever Pray but that they have some kind of belief to obtain fruit by their Prayers The King of Nineveh bad a solemn Fast at the hearing of Jonah's prophesie For says he Who can tell if God will turn and repent and turn away from his fierce anger that we perish not Jon. 3.9 None but a Lunatick would ask for relief from them that had neither knowledge of his case nor power to redress it O but the prayers of such are not grounded on the Faith that we speak of It is true such a Faith as possest Idolaters is not that which impetrates mercy from God Then I say neither Jews nor Mahumetans nor wicked men get any thing by that Prayer to which the promise is made Ask and ye shall have For whether they Pray or not all that they obtain had come to pass though they had held their peace It is for our sins and to scourge us that they have kingdoms and victories it is not their motley-faith that did purchase them And for all manner of store and plenty that the Earth yields to them it is but as God gives fodder to the Cattle and meat to the yong Ravens that call upon him 2. The Prayer of Faith then is only available but out of the mouth of an humble suiter For who will give an alms to a proud begger Thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth
Christian Consolations Taught from FIVE HEADS IN RELIGION I. Faith II. Hope III. The Holy Spirit IV. Prayer V. The Sacraments Written by a Learned PRELATE Isaiah 40.1 2. Comfort ye comfort ye my people saith your God Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquity is pardoned LONDON Printed for R. Royston Bookseller to his most Excellent Majesty 1671. TO THE READER THIS Manual of Christian Consolations derived from Five Heads of great importance in Religion was written by a late R. Prelate of our Church and is now Printed according to his own Copy The Papers were presented by him to a Person of Honour for whose private use they were designed But as the Noblest Spirits are most communicative that Noble and Religious Lady was pleased to impart them for the good also of others We read in the Evangelists how that the Holy Jesus who went about doing good that 's the short but full Character which * Acts 10.38 Saint Peter gives of him did by a Miracle of Mercy bless five Loaves to the feeding of a very great multitude And may the same Almighty Goodness bless and prosper whatsoever Spiritual good is contained in these Five Helps and Directions for a Christian's Comfort to the refreshing and strengthening of such Souls as truly hunger and thirst after God May the serious and devout Readers taste and see how good the Lord is that his Loving kindness is better than Life and that the Light of his Countenance the sense of his favour is infinitely more Heart-cheering and brings with it a truer and larger satisfaction than the encrease of Corn Psal 4. and Wine and Oil doth to the men of this world who only or chiefly mind Earthly things and unwisely place their felicity in the fading and empty enjoyments of this present life It is good then that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord Lam. 3. for he is good to them that wait for him to the Soul that seeketh him He who is the God of Love and even * 1 Jo. 4. Love it self He who is the ever-flowing Fountain of Goodness will not fail to fill the hungry with good things Such a Christian hath meat to eat which the world knows not of he feeds on the hidden Manna he hath as S. Austin said of S. Ambrose occultum os in corde ejus and with this he doth sapida gaudia de pane Dei ruminare The Father of the World who openeth his hand and satisfieth the desire of every living thing Psal 145. giving to all their meat in due season he is as ready to fulfil the desire of them that fear him he will give grace and glory Psal 84. and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly And here from the character and qualification of the Persons them that fear him and them that walk uprightly it highly concerns us to observe and to lay it to heart That a Sincere desire and Serious endeavour to fear God and walk uprightly is a necessary and indispensable Condition to qualifie and make us meet for the receiving of the best of Divine favours and blessings We must first walk in the fear of the Lord if we would walk in the Comfort of the Holy Ghost as these two are set together in Acts 9.31 If we would have the Spirit to be our Comforter we must follow the Spirit as our Guide and Counsellor If we would find rest unto our Souls we must take Christ's yoke upon us Matth. 11. the yoke of his Precepts which are all holy and just and good A state of inward Comfort and true Tranquillity of Spirit can never be secured and preserved but by a continued care to walk before God in a faithful obedience to his Will in all things For there is no peace to the wicked as is * Chap. 48. 22. Chap. 57. 21. twice exprest by the noble Prophet Isaiah But Great peace have they that love thy Law Psal 119.165 saith the Royal Psalmist the man after God's own heart who herein spake his own experience and elsewhere Psal 37.37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace While he lives he lives in peace his Soul dwells at ease he feels an unspeakable joy and pleasure within upon the sense of his doing his duty and being faithful in obedience to his Lord and Master in Heaven And when he dies he departs in peace and shall * Isa 57. enter into peace and ‖ Mat. 25. into the joy of his Lord. Here he tastes how sweet the Lord is but there he shall be abundantly satisfied with the plenty of God's House Psal 37. and made to drink of the River of his pleasures The meek shall eat and be satisfied and their heart shall live for ever Psal 22. And so full and compleat shall be their joy and satisfaction that they shall neither hunger nor thirst any more Rev. 7. for the Lamb shall feed them and shall lead them unto living Fountains of waters and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes This is the happy Portion of those Souls who have the Lord for their God with whom there is fulness of joy and at whose right hand there are pleasures most pure and permanent for evermore The Contents of the Chapters THe Introduction CHAP. I. Of Faith That Faith is the Ground and Foundation of a Christian's Comfort Several doubts and scruples about Believing answered Page 1. CHAP. II. Of Hope That a Christian's Comfort flows from the Grace of Hope The object of Hope is 1. That which is Good 2. A Good absent 3. Though absent yet possible and that for Three Reasons 4. Though possible yet difficult An account of two sorts of difficulties with particular encouragements against them Pag. 13. CHAP. III. Of the Holy Spirit How a Christian's Comforts flow from the Inhabitation and Testimony of the Holy Ghost as also from the Sanctification of the Spirit unto all Obedience and the fruits of Righteousness Pag. 67. CHAP. IV. Of Prayer Prayer is the great Instrument of a Christian's Comfort Concerning Prayer three things to be considered I. The Substance or Matter of Prayer in three Heads 1. Thanksgivings 2. Supplications 3. Intercessions II. The Qualification of them that Pray III. The fitness of Time for Prayer Pag. 99. CHAP. V. Of the Sacraments How the Sacraments minister to a Christian's Comfort A general Survey of Sacraments Five Reasons why God ordained Two Sacraments under the Gospel What Comforts flow from the Grace of Baptism What Comforts flow from the Lord's Supper Pag. 155. Christian Consolations taught from five Heads in Religion THE INTRODUCTION THE work of the Ministry consists in two things in Threatnings or Comforts The first is useful for the greatest part of Christians who are led by the Spirit of bondage and
fear to do evil because of wrath to come which grows out of love to themselves The second is fit for the best Christians that are led by the Spirit of love who endeavour to do righteousness because they love righteousness and to be like unto God who they know is only good which grows out of the spirit of adoption and obey as sons and daughters and not as servants Our Saviour and his Apostles insist sometimes upon the former way threatning the impenitent yet qualifying it with tidings of peace if they return and amend their lives For sharpness must be applied according to the power which the Lord hath given for edification and not for destruction 2 Cor. 13.10 The same Apostle propounds both in the former Epistle Chap. 4. Verse 21. Shall I come unto you with a rod or in love and in the spirit of meekness Which latter is most suitable to the Gospel to proclaim peace on earth and good will towards men And when James and John would have had fire to come down from Heaven upon the Samaritans Christ reproved them saying The Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them Luke 9.56 and St. Paul 1 Thess 5.9 God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ And surely there is cause to apply a cluster of consolation against a few grains of terror 1. Because we are all concluded under sin and the guilt is ever present unto us 2. Because of the weakness of the Graces that are in us not that they are weak but that humane corruption is mixt with them 3. Because of the strength and manifoldness of temptations 4. Because we are to be exercised with the sufferance of the Cross and we are infirm to bear it Lastly Because little is communicated to us at the present of that Reward we look for least of all is any share of it present and before our eyes Forasmuch then as there are so many in-draughts that break into our heart to make us sick of sorrow and fear let us seek comfort from God who hath left no disease without a remedy to cure it who healeth all thy diseases Psalm 103.3 I say it is to be sought from God lest we light upon them that tell false dreams and comfort in vain Zach. 10.2 The right place for it must be the Word of God as it is Rom. 15.4 That we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope Which comfort scatter'd up and down in that Holy Book and not cast all into a lump together by searching it diligently we may draw our Consolation out of five things Faith Hope The in-dwelling of the Spirit Prayer and the Sacraments Coronata Fides Dux viae prudens simplicitas CHAP. I. That Faith is the Ground and Foundation of a Christian's Comfort Several doubts and scruples about believing answered FAITH is the Root of all blessings Believe and you shall be saved Believe and you must needs be sanctified Believe and you cannot chuse but be comforted Believe that God is true in all his promises and you are the seed of faithful Abraham and shall inherit the promises made to Abraham Believe that you are Christs and Christ is yours and then you are sure that none can perish whom the Father hath given to him There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 And as Martha said Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not died Jo. 11.21 So let all say that groan and pine away in sorrow Lord if thou hadst been here if thou hadst appeared to my soul in thy goodness I had not fainted in my trouble Isaiah foretells Chap. 61.3 that it should be Christs office to give the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness For St. John saw in the spirit that they that follow Christ are cloathed in white garments in garments of joy in the livery of gladness Solomon describing the provident Mistress of a Family Prov. 31.21 says She is not afraid of the snow for her houshold for all her houshold are cloathed with scarlet So the houshold of Christ are not afraid of frost and snow nor of any bitter blast they have put on the garment of dependence on Christ which protects them and do resolve never to put off their privy-coat of confidence in their Saviour With this did Christ encourage the poor woman being under confusion who had secretly toucht the hem of his garment Be of comfort thy Faith hath made thee whole Matth. 9.22 The first time that the word Comfort is found in Scripture is Gen. 5.29 upon the birth of Noah his Father says This Son shall Comfort us so when God did give Christ to be made man he did as it were say unto us This Son shall Comfort you for his name is Jesus and he shall save his people from their sins He that gave us him hath given us all things with him As it is true to say that Matthew left all to follow Christ so it is as true that he got all that can be wisht by following him It is the Chymistry of Faith let me use that word to turn all things into good and precious Ore It is Abraham's Country in a strange land Jacob's wages when Laban defrauded him Moses's honour when he refused to be the son in law of Pharaoh's daughter Rahab's security when all Jericho beside did perish David's rescue when there was but a step between him and death The power of the Apostles to be able to cast out Devils Mary Magdalen's sweet ointment to take away the ill savour of her sins Plead therefore with the Oratory of Faith and say Lord I have no life but in thee I have no joy but in thee no salvation but in thee but I have all these in thee and then how can my Soul refuse to be Comforted But some will say perhaps Faith is a powerful Comforter but I poor wretch had need to be Comforted concerning my Faith I find the pulse of it weak and sometimes it intermits as if it beat not at all Methinks I am not drawn near to Christ or that I am so far off that I cannot embrace him Some such infirmity may seem to have been in the Thessalonians and therefore St. Paul says I have sent Timotheus to establish you and to comfort you concerning your Faith 1 Epist Chap. 3. Ver. 2. Now to turn this water into wine and the trembling of this Objection into peace and joy in the Holy Ghost conceive as if these questions were put to you Do you often accuse your self of a weak Faith in secret unto God I like it for a good symptome for an hypocrite doth not use to accuse himself And do you bewail your want to the Lord because you would have it better supplied that 's a good sign too for it is the same as to thirst for the living God They that
I am at my furthest I desire the appearance of the Lord Jesus at the great day Come Lord Jesus come quickly I can do no more I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ I must do no more for I must not attempt my own dissolution I wish for the conversion of the Jews to the Faith I must not compel them This holds in a few things In the most willingness must shew some practice as in the same Chapter Verse 11. Now therefore perform the doing of it that as there was a readiness to will so there may be a performance also of that which you have But to desire to do and to do little is a sign that there was little desire This hath overthrown many that they desire not to reach high But we know that God gives his Grace by Talents and not in petty summs yet a luke-warm professor can be content with mites Could such a one get a moderate competency of righteousness knowing that without holiness no man shall see God then he would sit down and let others strive if they like it to be the tallest Cedars in the house of the Lord. There are many such indifferent Disciples that would be always babes and never come to a manly growth wrap themselves about with as many fig-leaves as would cover their shame and think they want no more apparel These if they knew what it were to a dram that would serve them to attain salvation they would reach so far if the grace of God would assist them but would put themselves to no trouble to purifie their body and Spirit any further Here 's a pretence of a desire to serve God but with so much laziness with so much lethargy that the Lord disdains it as dead carion He would serve God and he would serve Mammon He approves much prayer but he cannot attend it He would not for all the world but be a Christian yet a small share in profit or a snap at a little pleasure will pervert him to be a dishonest Christian But real and holy desire stands up for much though it cannot do so much honour to God as he would like the disease Ephialtes that oppresseth us in the night between sleeping and waking we would turn to the other side of the bed and cannot But to shake off this Incubus it listens after all the noble exploits that the Saints of God have done and would exactly follow them or if it were possible run before them if not it will be heartily sorry that frailty makes it come short of the best It would compound for no less than to pay all if it were able Then you shall find the heart pant often with these inward earnings Sweet Saviour should any of thy servants love thee better than I should any of thy Disciples be more obedient than I No Lord for none of thine are so much endebted to thy passion because none had so many sins to be forgiven How amiable are thy Commandments O Lord of hosts my Soul thirsteth to be the nearest of them that shall stand before the presence of the living God Lord let me love thee as Peter did Lord let me love thee more than these So I have revealed the First comforts flowing from the Holy Ghost by his Inhabitation and inward Testimony and the next Comforts by the Fruits of Righteousness and those sincere desires of Godliness which by Christs merciful interpretation supply our failings All which I conclude out of our Church-Song made to the Holy Ghost Visit our minds and into us Thy Heavenly Grace inspire That in all Truth and Godliness We may have true desire CHAP. IV. Prayer is the great Instrument of a Christian's Comfort Concerning Prayer three things to be considered I. The Substance or Matter of Prayer in three Heads 1. Thanksgivings 2. Supplications 3. Intercessions II. The Qualification of them that Pray III. The fitness of Time for Prayer THE order laid down in the beginning carries me to the Fourth part of Christian Consolation The Heavenly delight of Prayer It is the lively expression of Faith the Embassador which Hope sends to God the comfort of Love the fellowship of the Spirit our Advocate unto our Advocate Christ Jesus our Incense whose smoke ascends up and is sweet in the nostrils of the most High which promiseth such abundant success that humility had rather conceive than utter it lest we should seem to boast A lowly supplicant to God never rose up from his knees without some stirrings of gracious expectation nor without a prophetical instinct that the mercy of the Lord was nigh at hand Which fortunate presage Isaiah confirms unto us Chap. 56.7 I will make them joyful in my house of Prayer And how readily may we use this mighty Ordinance of God how soon it may be done if we have a mind to it What freedom have we no man can deny it to utter a brief Prayer and very often if we will in the greatest toil and business The tongue of the stammerer shall be ready to speak elegantly Isa 32.4 It is so facile a part of Religion as he that hath a tongue can scarce miss it It is as easie to say Our Father which art in Heaven as to see Heaven which is always in our eye Every Sect of Pagans and Idolaters were taught by instinct to fly unto it ex tempore as the Heathen Mariners cried every man to his God Jon. 1.5 An Atheist falling into a sudden danger as suppose a Pistol were put to his breast would cry out as soon to God to help him as any true believer And he that upon deliberation did say there was no God will break out into a confession before he is aware that there is a God by natural impulsion A poor Whelp hath found a way to lick its own sores whole with its tongue so when we are opprest with misery whether the evil of sin or the evil of punishment we are prompted by the natural notions of our Soul to lick the sore with our tongue that is to call for help from Heaven That Soul which God did breath into man cannot shake off this principle That all succour comes from above for which it must breath out it self unto God No creature among Beasts but being smitten will fall upon the way to relieve it self except a blind incogitant sinner Such as have written upon their sagacity in that kind tell us That the Fishes in the fresh waters being struck with a tool of Iron will rub themselves upon the glutinous skin of the Tench to be cured The Hart wounded with an Arrow runs to the Herb Dittany to bite it that the shaft may fall out that struck in his body The Swallow will seek out the green Tetterwort to recover the eyes of her young ones when they are blinded Only a stupid sinner forgets how to redintegrate his miserable estate by throwing himself down prostrate before God in humble petition He walks forlorn
more than this the first time she came to our Saviour Luke 7.37 she came into a strange house without leave and admittance into the house of a Pharisee and those hypocrites would not admit suspected sinners she takes opportunity to come at dinner-time being a guest unbidden she gives no salutation to the company but falls down at our Saviours feet and lays her kisses thick upon them says a holy writer to it it is Gregory the Great Hast thou no forehead woman hath modesty quite lest thee And he answers himself Minimè pudor intus erat That which she was asham'd of was within her she was so ashamed of her sins that she forgat all other shamefac'dness You see that Zeal will pardon boldness and will give authority to prayer to expostulate with God and hath a toleration as it were to quarrel with his mercy Now a Christian sensible of many imperfections will cry out O that I could attain to some degrees of Zeal I am no Shunamite no Mary Magdalen no Paul fervent in Spirit I am carried away with distractions when I speak unto the Lord in Prayer and through the multitude of various thoughts I forget what I am about O Christ help our frailties and keep our minds fixed upon thee when we ask any thing in thy Name One body cannot be in two places at once and one heart cannot be in Heaven and Earth together O let us cover our faces with the wings of the Cherubims Isa 6.2 that we may not see enticements to distract us Watch and Pray watch this wandring heart that it may not be stoln away by fancies that move in our mind continually like motes in the beams of the Sun Defie Satan and bid him abandon As they that have committed a robbery run away from a Hue and Cry so the Devil will run away from the noise of your Supplications when you challenge him for sacriledge that he hath robb'd you of your Devotion To do more yet I will assay to prescribe a remedy to a disease I fear not quite to be cur'd But first feel your own pulse and your fitness for the Heavenly work of Prayer before you begin it See that you be not drowzy and slothful for a sluggard will be incumbred with various and recurrent thoughts Neither would I have you to protract Prayer to that length which otherwise you would have done when your mind and devotion fail you Short and pithy Prayers Collects well fill'd with words and matter and not protracted till they may be censur'd for babbling are more prevalent with God when Zeal doth manage them than to spend out time without a fervent and well fixt intention The Prayers of the great Saints in Scripture are compendious they are strong in sense and speak home A rose is sweeter in the bud than in the blown flower and what your abate at one time in length to anticipate distraction you may fill up the measure when you will by using them the oftner I have known some servants of God very circumspect in their ways that use for the most part to read their Prayers either Printed or Written that seeing the matter of them before their eyes they might the better contain themselves from all extravagancies To which end it is prescribed in the Church of Rome though a Priest can say the Mass by heart yet he must read it out of his book to keep the closer to the intention of his duty But when all is said happy are they that offend least in this kind for all offend And who can we blame but our selves that are remiss and not half so earnest as we should be to prevail with God which I demonstrate thus Let there be any thing in our Prayers which we are more eagerly set upon to obtain than all the rest we will never start aside nor run out of our circle when we come to that petition Animus est ubi amat The mind is with that and in that which it loves If we did long for every member of our Prayer as much as for that special thing which we did so eminently desire we would continue from the beginning to the end of Prayer with little or no diversion This bottom is not wound up till I give a warning to Zeal as it is Gal. 5.18 It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing Look that your petitions be modelled into such things as the Word and Spirit do appoint and stir you up to ask and you shall not be ashamed of your sacrifice Hos 4.19 But if you be frivolous the Prophet will tell you again Ye have sown the wind and ye shall reap the whirle-wind Hos 8.7 or the Apostle tells you plainly Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss James 4.3 Ask for the kingdom of Heaven for the maintenance of God's glory for newness of life and obedience to the will of God ask for pardon of sins in Christ Jesus for grace in the Holy Ghost to resist temptations ask our offended Father for mercy to be delivered from the wrath which we have deserved and let the seventh part of our Prayer be for the things of this life and for them with moderation according to that port and person which we bear in the world and be contented with the portion allotted to you aim by this level and you hit the mark What mighty blessings did fall upon Solomon because he desired not the advantages of pomp and luxury when God put it to him in a dream what to ask he desired an understanding and a wise heart and the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing 1 Kings 3.10 3. Intercessions that is Prayers wherein we mediate to God for others must now be thought of and the Comfort redounding from them The duty is strictly commanded to Pray for one another James 5.16 And I will that Intercessions be made for all men for Kings and all that are in Authority 1 Tim. 2.1 when we do so we have done what we are bidden and having done that albeit we are unprofitable servants to God we are not uncomfortable to our selves For it is the first part of the reward of a good deed that we can say to our Conscience we have done it Beside the work of love is delightful to the Spirit and to help others in our Prayers is the largest and widest work of Charity willing to do good to all upon the face of the Earth and stretching forth its hands that the whole world may be the better for the calves of our lips Chiefly commending the whole state of Christs Church to Gods mercy yet also as may be seen in our Collect used on Good-friday not forgetting to remember Christ for Jews Turks Infidels Hereticks to take from them ignorance hardness of heart and contempt of the Word not only that the Sheep of Christs pasture might be blest but that it might be well with Nero and such as he that were
Church but such an humble sinner God draws thee and none but those that are like unto thee near unto his mercy Though thy sins do cleave unto thee be comforted that thou dost not cleave unto thy sins Elkanah gave a more worthy portion to Hannah that was barren but meek and devout than to Peninnah that bare him sons and daughters but was proud and scornful 1 Sam. 1.5 God hath heard his beloved Son when he made Prayers for sinners will hear those sinners that are his Sons when they ask any thing in the name of Christ III. Good fruit must be brought forth in a good season which only remains to be thought upon and to be added to the Consolation of Prayer For every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under the Heaven Eccles 3.1 But neither days nor hours nor seasons did ever come amiss to faithful Prayer Evening and morning and at Noon will I Pray and cry aloud and He shall hear my voice Psal 55.17 which includes all the space of duration For all time is included in Morning Noon and Night Pray without ceasing 1 Thess 5.17 Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance Ephes 6.18 Short passes quick ejections concise forms and remembrances holy breathings Prayers like little posies may be sent forth without number on every occasion and God will note them in his book But all that have a care to walk with God fill their vessels more largely as soon as they rise before they begin the work of the day and before they lie down again at night Which is to observe what the Lord appointed in the Levitical ministery a morning and an evening Lamb to be laid upon the Altar So with them that are not stark irreligious Prayer is the key to open the day and the bolt to shut in the night But as the skies drop the early dew and the evening dew upon the grass yet it would not spring and grow green by that constant and double falling of the dew unless some great showers at certain seasons did supply the rest So the customary devotion of Prayer twice a-day is the falling of the early and the latter dew but if you will increase and flourish in the works of grace empty the great clouds sometimes and let them fall into a full shower of Prayer chuse out the seasons in your own discretion when Prayer should overflow like Jordan in the time of harvest keep strictly as much as you are able to those times of the day which you have designed to appear in before the Lord for then you offer up not only your Prayers but the strict observation of set times which is a double sacrifice and an evidence that you will not dispense to pretermit that holy work for any a vocation He that refers himself at large to Pray when he is at leisure gives God the worst of the day that is his idle time I account them prudent therefore that are precise in keeping Canonical hours of Prayer as they call them so they Pray to God alone who alone knows their heart and so they Pray with the Spirit and with the Vnderstanding 1 Cor. 14.15 that is in a tongue wherein they know what they say and understand the language wherein they vent the meditations of their Spirit This was the milk that the Church of England gave every day out of her breasts to praise God in common-Common-Prayer at set hours before noon and after in the assemblies of her devout children How many have rejoyced to hear the Chiming of the Bells to call them together and would never miss their station As Peter and John went together to the Temple at the hour of Prayer being the ninth hour Acts 3.1 O when will these profane days come to an end that we may again so orderly so delightfully appear before the living God Of one thing the Devil disappointed us many years past in the time of Prayer which was the Night-offices of prayers called Vigils which are disused because it was feared they grew incident to scandal and uncleanness And though they be left off I believe for good reason in a concourse of open meeting yet let not God lose his tribute of Prayer which should be paid him in the still and quiet opportunity of the night The day is God's and the night is God's the darkness and light to him are both alike let not so many hours as run out from our lying down to our rising up again pass away without any Prayer Says David O Lord I remembred thee in my bed and meditated on thee in the night-watches Psalm 63.6 It seems while the Tabernacle of Moses stood that the Priests did some duties in it all night long Psalm 134.1 Bless the Lord ye servants of the Lord which by night stand in the house of the Lord. The Apostles allowed widows must continue in Supplication and Prayers night and day 1 Tim. 5.5 And Anna the widow-prophetess served God with Fasting and Prayers night and day Luke 2.37 The Lord hath foretold that he will come as a thief in the night at the great day 2 Pet. 3.10 Therefore O Lord with my Soul will I desire thee in the night and at midnight will I think upon thee and call unto thee that if it shall be this night even now when Christ Jesus will come to judge the world my Soul may find mercy from him and both Body and Soul may be glorified and so continue with him for ever All this about the opportunity of time shall shut up with one Instruction of the Psalmist Psal 32.6 Every one that is Godly shall Pray unto thee O Lord in a time that thou mayest be found When you find stirrings and impulsions more than ordinary to provoke you to Prayer follow the admonition of the Spirit and let not such a time slip You know not whether such a divine presage may rowle in your thoughts again I make no question but there are some Critical moments wherein God offers more than he will do again if you neglect him when he courts you with so great advantage But now change the case from mine to the whole Nations from private to publick then thus I will be peremptory in my resolution There is no time too late for any Christian that lives in his single person to beseech God to be merciful to him he may find the same propitiousness that the penitent thief did But there may be a time too late to save a Kingdom or a state from ruine when the Lord hath decreed the period of it Therefore when confusions threaten and begin to peep out watch them betimes and let the whole Land Pray for peace and let the Governours prepare conditions for it to avert publick calamitie If we let tumults and conspiracies grow to a head it will be in vain to struggle by monthly or weekly humiliations when our destiny is unavoidable Plutarch