God had deliuered him from great dangers and would doe so still 2. Cor. 1.8 so that they would pray earnestly for him Brethren saith he we would not haue you ignorant of our affliction which came vnto vs in Asia how we were pressed out of measure passing strength so that we altogether doubted euen of life Yea we receiued the sentence of death in our selues because wee should not trust in our selues but in God who raiseth the dead Who deliuered vs from so great a death and doth deliuer vs in whom we trust that yet hereafter he will deliuer vs so that yee labour together in prayer for vs. Thus he beleeued that hee might get great good by the earnest prayers of others and therefore doth desire them Great things may be obtained when many pray together euen to bee deliuered by the power of them from many great dangers And it may bee if wee haue marked the experience of our selues and others that we may well remember what great deliuerances haue been graunted when others haue laboured in prayers for vs or wee for them if not wee may see it by the grace of God in time to come But very few account prayer such a labour or striuing as it is and so go to it coldly and trust to their own strength and so obtaine nothing Pauls hope was in this that others should striue with him in prayer so we might haue greater hope if wee sought for helpe at the prayers of others and did not trust to our owne too much If thus in all matters of moment we desire the prayers of others according to our neede it will come to passe What comfort we may haue when we haue desired the prayers of others that wee should not want the fruite of them seeing the Lord hath promised to heare them but howsoeuer things fall out with vs we shal haue this comfort of a good conscience that we haue neglected no means that God hath appointed for our good But if wee bee carelesse of the prayers of others and so doe not seeke for them besides that it may come to passe that wee shall faile of our purpose through our owne default as when one striueth alone he cannot ouercome because he hath none to ioyne with him or at least hee shall not obtaine it so soone as otherwise hee might as when one is about a thing alone hee is the longer a doing it we shall haue the lesse comfort or more griefe because we neglected some meanes that might haue done vs good We must then be perswaded that the prayers of others may doe vs good and that wee neede them and so accordingly desire them In the daies of ignorance and superstition men gaue much to haue a continuall Masse for them that is In Poperie they maintained others to pray for them to pray for their soules and there were Beadmen also as they called them appointed for that purpose to pray for the liuing and for the dead and were maintained by the goods of the Church to that end which prayers of theirs because they were in an vnknowne tongue and so without vnderstanding and also not according to the word of God and so without faith could doe them no good yet this truth they aimed at though in darknes and as blind men that the prayers of others were so auaileable for them that euen in that respect onely they gaue much yeerely vnto those that should pray for them And truly if they had prayed aright they might by their prayers haue giuen more than they receiued for they might haue obtained great things of the Lord for them But here was another great abuse of that time in these prayers also that they hauing others thus to pray for them they rested in that and so neglected their owne prayers the more and thought that they might doe it with the lesse danger for they had others that prayed for them continually and so that that was wanting in themselues was supplied by others Dauid was of another minde for heere by his practise we haue an example of one that so desireth the prayers of others as that hee purposeth not to neglect prayer himselfe or to vse it any whit the lesse for that but to vse it rather the more willing them to pray God to heare his prayers so that if he did not pray himselfe their prayers should do him no good but it should be al one with him as if one should desire a man to set his hand to a blank and so he should preferre that as a supplication for him to the Prince So we are to desire others to pray for vs but in the meane season we must not neglect to pray for our selues Obiection But it may seeme superfluous and more then needed that Dauid should thus desire the prayers of the people for they were his subiects and therefore as in that respect they did owe other duties vnto him so this of praier most of all according to the exhortation of the Apostle who willeth 1. Tim. 2.1.2 that supplications prayers intercessions and giuing of thankes be made for all men and namely for Kings and for all that are in authoritie therfore it is like that they would not neglect it though he had not admonished them of it Besides it was a publike cause that hee dealt in euen against the open enemies of the whole realme against whom he went to warre and so it concerned them as well as himselfe for the enemies came not against his person onely but against them all and so they could not forget him their King vnlesse they forgat themselues Answere Yet because he knew that men naturally are forgetfull and so if they were not put in minde of it they might either wholy neglect it or not doe it so throughly as they should hee put them in minde to pray for himselfe and giueth them a forme of it and so telleth them what they should say This should moue vs to put our dearest friends in minde of vs and call vpon them to pray for vs Our dearest friends had neede to be put in mind to pray for vs. yea when they know our estate best and what great neede wee haue of the prayers of others for they may forget vs sometimes though they wish vs well And as through forgetfulnes they may neglect other duties which yet they are willing generally to performe as not to visite vs to send to vs to write to vs as often as they should and wee looke for at their hands so much more not to pray for vs for many times they that doe the former in great measure neglect this wholy or in a great part Wee finde by experience that many times yea when wee are spoken to of our friends wee remember not all but forget many things why should we not think then that others may forget vs if they be not put in minde Parents are bound to pray for their children and they should
shall lay vpon thē and further to pray that the seed of Gods word that hath been sowen in the furrowes of their harts may now appeare in them to their owne comfort and the incouragement of others and all patience and hope and ioy of the holy Ghost And also that they might be stirred vp to reade it diligently and carefully to meditate vpon it and haue wisedome to applie it to themselues that so they may haue sufficient strength thereby Thus shall it come to passe that though wee cannot visit them that are sicke according to our desire for feare of the infection to comfort them in presence by the word of God in our mouthes yet we may pray for them that God would through the inward working of his holy spirit strengthen them by that good word of his which they haue heard before That if it shall please God to take thē out of this world that they may walke in the strength of that spirituall foode which they haue already receiued vnto the kingdome of heauen 1. King 19.8 euen as Elijah the Prophet walked in the strength of his corporall foode fortie daies and fortie nights vnto Horeb the mount of God And though in speaking of the strength that is to be had in Sion wee haue specially stood vpon the strength that wee haue from the word yet we exclude not the Sacraments prayer This strength also is increased by the Sacraments and by prayer publike and priuate but include them rather as parts of Gods worship and meanes also from whence wee must receiue strength against trouble For the Sacraments are as seales to confirme vs in the truth of Gods promises and we must vse them to that end and by the prayers of the Church both the Word and the Sacraments are fruitfull and of force to strengthen vs therefore whilest wee may wee must vse them also and make this account of them that by them wee may get sufficient strength for all troubles that shall befall vs. And let vs know assuredly that how much we haue or shall faile in the vse of either of these so much may we iustly faile of strength and the more we vse them the more shall we haue strength and be able to beare any thing In this respect againe I beseech you that you would come diligently to the Church that yee may bee partakers of common prayers there that so by them also yee may be strengthened For God hath made a speciall promise vnto many that he will be in the middest of them and besides these wee must giue our selues vnto priuate prayer in our families that we and they may haue strength thereby to beare all afflictions and euery man and woman pray often by themselues for this is a speciall meanes to haue faith and all other good gifts of God increased in vs for Christ hath promised to giue to thē that aske Matth. 7.7 therfore now all should stirre vp themselues to all kinde of prayer that wee might doe as the Apostle willeth vs namely Pray alwaies with all manner prayer and supplication in the spirit Ephes 6.18 and watch thereunto with all perseuerance and supplication for this is one of the parts of the spirituall armour whereby we are strengthened against our spiritual enemies and this is placed last as the greatest and as that from whence al the other haue their force And he speaketh of all manner of prayer to that end that we might vse them all as publikely and priuately with our selues and with others that so God might blesse some or all of them for the strengthening of vs. And let vs pray for them that are sick who it may bee now in great paine and weaknes cannot pray for themselues that they might haue the fruite of their owne former prayers and of others for them that so they might be strengthened from Sion that is from the means of Gods worship there vsed Which God grant for Christ Iesus his sake Amen THE NINTH SERMON vpon the third verse Let him remember all thine offerings and turne thy burnt offerings into ashes Selah HEre the people continue to pray for their king The interpretation of the third verse namely that God would remēber al his offerings and turne his burnt offerings into ashes In which their meaning is that hee would fauourably accept the prayers that hee had made and the sacrifices that he had offered and al the gifts and oblations that according to the manner of those times he had brought vnto God and generally what seruice soeuer he had done for the successe and blessing of God in this action before he went to the warre that he would graciously receiue it and that now he would by the effect and by his defence successe and blessing shew that he had done so in deed This verse consisteth of two parts So that there are two parts of this prayer in the former they pray that God would fauourably remember what seruice he had done to him and accept of it in the latter that he would shew by his dealing in this matter betweene him and his enemies in the course of his prouidence that he had done so in deed For in praying that he would turne his burnt offrings into ashes they haue respect vnto that which God had done in time past namely with fire from heauen he had consumed the offrings of some that haue been made to him whereby he did sufficiently declare as by a demonstratiue token that he allowed of them and had heard their prayers that they offered with them According to this the people pray here that God would by some signe or token shew that he had receiued them Let him remember that is They pray that God would remember his seruice and offerings we would to God that he would remember or we beseech him to remember what seruice hath been done to him for the obtaining of his fauour and not only remember but with fauour and acceptation wherein they speake according to mans capacity for all things are present with God and he forgetteth nothing that is done to him yea all things that all men euer haue done are continually before him But as among men if we haue a suite to some great person and when we make it that we might speede the better we bring some present vnto him also and afterwards when wee are gone we wish that he would remember vs and our suite and our gifts Or that he would smell them deale with vs accordingly So they desire that God would think vpon him and vpon his suites that he made and the gifts that hee brought and deale with him in mercy thereafter Some doe reade this text otherwise but it tends all to one ende namely that God would smell his gifts Because that in the time of the lawe vnto their oblations there was by the commandement of God some incense adioyned burnt as Moses setteth it down
truth in Christ I lie not that I might vse the words of the Apostle that I haue been desired of many often to pray for them in their seuerall troubles but of very few desired againe to be thankfull for the same which sheweth that though at the first it may be they desired the prayers of others with Selah that is with great earnestnes in the feeling of their owne estate yet afterwards they were not so much moued with it as Dauid was here and so forgat to bee thankfull themselues at leastwise did not desire others to be thankfull for them or not with that feeling that they desired them to pray for them before Let vs then I pray you consider how wee esteeme of this that God heareth our prayers at any time We esteeme it may be of the things themselues that God bestoweth vpon vs at our prayers whether it bee health or wealth or any thing els our owne need driueth vs vnto it but doe we account it to bee so great a fauour of God and confesse our selues to be so vnworthie of it that wee shall be bound to serue him and praise him for it When wee haue it I beseech you doe we enter seriously into the consideration of the mercie of God and of our owne vnworthines to say What a good God is this that hath dealt so gratiously with mee Surely surely we shall finde that few do it either before they pray or when they haue done to say What a thing is this I that am so vilde a wretch that haue no goodnes in me at all that haue so many waies offended God that he should notwithstanding heare my prayers whereas hee might iustly haue brought vpon mee that curse that is spoken off in the Prophet That as the Lord cried vnto me often in his word Zach. 7.13 and I would not heare him so I should crie to him in my prayers and hee not heare me Therefore it was needfull for them by this word Selah to bee stirred vp and wee must learne thereby to make more account of the hearing of our prayers than we doe For though God hath made a promise vnto vs in Christ that if we aske wee shall receiue Let vs stirre vp our selues to make more account of the hearing of our prayers yet when wee consider how many waies for our part wee haue broken the couenant and how weake our faith is wherby we receiue all we may iustly thinke that God may denie vs all things and that it is his great mercie if he heare vs in any thing And namely so must wee doe at this present for this sicknes acknowledge our selues vnworthie of all his former mercies much more that we are vnworthie of any new as Iacob did when he said O God of my father Abraham Gen. 32.10 I am not worthie of the least of all the mercies and truth which thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant Therefore if it please God to shew vs any merâ—â—â—is way wee must so esteeme it that we binde our selues remember it and to be thankfull to him for it all the daies of our life and then let vs remember what we haue promised and labour to performe it which grace God grant vs for Christ Iesus his sake Amen THE TWELFTH SERMON vpon the fourth verse And graunt thee according to thine heart and fulfill all thy purpose The meaning of the fourth verse THese are the words of the people vnto God for their King and part of the prayer which they made for him namely that God would grant him according to his hearts desire and fulfill all his purposes that is whatsoeuer his heart did wish and desire that God would giue and whatsoeuer hee purposed God would bring to passe As if they had said O Lord whatsoeuer he desireth in his heart that grant thou and whatsoeuer he purposeth in his minde that bring thou to passe Now Dauid teaching them thus to pray we may presume that he did determine to haue nothing but good desires in his heart and good purposes and the people by the great experience that they had had a long time of his goodnes did thus iudge of him else neither could he haue desired them so to pray for him neither they haue done it in faith First then as in all other things we must approue our selues vnto God from our very heart which is the chiefest thing that he looketh vnto and that especially he requireth of all according as it is written My sonne giue me thy heart Prou. 23.26 so in our prayers most of all that wee desire in our heart nothing but that that is iust and lawfull and according to his will All the desires of our hearts in prayer must be agreeable to the will of God And so againe whatsoeuer we goe about the meanes that we vse must be lawfull and such as God may allow of that so in our prayers we may commend them vnto God Then may wee boldly pray God to fulfill them and desire others also to doe so and they being so perswaded of vs by good proofe may safely and with a good conscience thus pray for vs though they knowe not all our hearts desires and purposes For God hath promised that whatsoeuer wee aske according to his will he will grant it vnto vs. And al the promises that are made vnto prayer are thus to be vnderstood and no otherwise As when Christ saith Aske and it shall be giuen you seeke and you shall finde Matth. 7.7 knocke and it shall be opened vnto you for whosoeuer asketh receiueth and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be opened And againe Whatsoeuer yee aske in my name Joh. 14.13 that will I do that is which is good and according to Gods will As it is euident by that which the Apostle writeth to the Romanes Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities Rom. 8.26 for we know not what to pray as wee ought but the Spirit it selfe maketh request for vs with sighes which cannot be expressed But he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the meaning of the Spirit And such prayers God will heare for he maketh request for the Saints according to the will of God So that when a man prayeth by the instinct and motion of the Spirit of God which directeth him to aske according to his will and word then he heareth and such we may boldly desire others to pray that God would grant So likewise it is said in the tenth Psalme Psal 10.17 Lord thou hast heard the desire of the poore thou preparest their hearts thou bendest thine eare thereto Where the Prophet confesseth to the comfort of the Church that God is readie to heare the prayers of his poore Saints but how when their hearts by Gods spirit bee prepared to desire good things according to Gods will then hee is readie to bend his eare and the more that our hearts be thus prepared
made vnto prayer which are infinit in number and vnmeasurable in greatnesse but take one for an example Christ saith in the Gospell Aske and it shall be giuen you seeke and yee shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you Matth. 7.7 which hee deliuereth without limitation that we might know that it is not to be restrained to our selues but if wee aske for others wee shall receiue for them Then let vs set before our eyes the manifold and happie experience of the truth of these promises in all the seruants of God And by the experience of them in others who by their prayers haue obtained great things for others as we haue heard alreadie that when wee shall finde this way Gods word and all his promises pure and most certainly to be trusted vnto as siluer that is tried in a fornace of earth Psal 12.6 and fined seuen fold we might relie vpon them and so be willing to pray for others knowing that we shall not lose our labor Thirdly to these wee must adde the consideration of our owne experience But most of in our selues and remember for whom wee haue prayed and how often and what hath been the successe of our prayers As how wee haue prayed heretofore for the life and preseruation of our gouernours and namely of our late Soueraigne Ladie of famous memorie Queen Elizabeth and how God hath often deliuered her from many great treasons intended against her by the Iesuites and other Papists how we haue prayed for others as for the life health and prosperitie of our parents husbands wiues children neighbours and friends in their seuerall griefes of minde and infirmities of bodie and other distresses and what hath followed thereupon as how they haue been recouered and comforted and otherwise holpen and relieued how here in the Church we haue sometimes prayed for those that haue been very sicke euen at deaths doore who haue receiued the sentence of death in themselues and yet they haue recouered and some of them are aliue still that so as Dauid said vpon his former triall The Lord that deliuered me out of the paw of the lion 1. Sam. 17.37 and out of the paw of the beare hee will deliuer me out of the hand of this Philistim so wee might vpon our former experience boldly say God that of his mercie and goodnes hath vouchsafed to heare me for such and such wil heare me also at this time for these To this end also wee must wisely obserue and diligently marke for our owne comfort and the good of others what hath followed vpon our prayers and what God hath wrought or done for them Yea all they that desire the prayers of others for any speciall cause whether of the Church generally or of priuate men particularly should signifie vnto them afterwards which few or none doe and it is a great vnthankfulnes in them vnto God and man not to doe it what blessings they haue found vpō themselues by such prayers not onely that they might bee thankfull to God for them as they prayed for them before but that being confirmed by such experience they might the more willingly and boldly pray for them and for others at some other time as there shall be neede and for want of this they cannot doe it so cheerefully and so confidently as otherwise they might doe To conclude the summe of all that hath been said in one word How greatly men faile in neglecting to pray for others we see what is here required of vs euen that we bee mindfull to pray for others and what good reason there is for it both in respect of our owne comfort and of their good let vs examine our selues to see whether wee haue been so carefull to performe this dutie vnto them as we should How often haue wee and doe we pray for the good estate of the Church of God in other countries as in France the Netherlands Geneua and such like that God would defend them from their enemies and inlarge the kingdome of Christ among them Nay how often doe wee pray for the Church of God in this land and in the kingdomes vnited How often for the Kings Maiestie the right honourable Councellors Iudges and Magistrates not onely of this land but more specially of our owne countrey How often for our neighbours yea particularly and by name for them of our owne family as for al our children and seruants Yea let vs call into our minds how often wee haue prayed seriously and in good earnest for those that haue desired our prayers and haue as it were made a couenant of prayer with vs by promising that they would pray for vs if we would remember thē whether we haue carefully kept this promise and couenant or no and when we shall finde that wee haue greatly failed this way let vs be sorie that wee haue not done that good this way that we might and that hath been looked for at our hands and therefore that wee cannot haue that comfort in the common blessings of God in church and common wealth and vpon priuate men that others haue And let vs determine for the time to come to be more mindful of others in our prayers and let vs be so indeede especially of all the Church of God and of all those that we haue made this promise vnto and so haue bound our selues to it by a couenant in the Lord that so the Lord may also reward vs with the prayers of others and with the fruit of the same in our greatest neede when wee shall haue carefully performed this dutie vnto them before Especially let vs remember to pray for the King and for all our gouernours as wee are bound thereunto both by the word of God and the lawes of the realme as if wee had made a certaine promise to them for it THE FOVRTH SERMON vpon the first verse The Lord heare thee in the day of trouble THus the people doe speake vnto God in the behalfe of their King and so they pray for him The people pray for king Dauid that God would heare him and defend him This practise of theirs must be our imitation for it is the dutie of all subiects likewise to pray for their Princes and gouernours and as wee doe owe vnto them tribute custome feare and honour as the Apostle saith Rom. 13.7 so this dutie of prayer also and most of all and therefore it is a great fault in any to neglect it let vs therefore doe it So should we all doe for our King and that of conscience publikely and priuately Men for the most part are addicted to themselues or to their friends in prayer the King they think is a great way off and so the prouerbe with them is too true Out of sight out of minde or they thinke he is well enough and hath all things at will therfore he needeth not so greatly to be prayed for especially of vs. Surely we cannot
his name And this is the rather to bee marked because that the Lord when hee would make himselfe best knowne vnto Moses Exod. 34.6 and so did to that end proclaime his name as it is said speaketh thus The Lord the Lord strong mercifull and gracious God is answerable to his good name though men be not so alwaies slow to anger and abundant in goodnes and truth reseruing mercie for thousands forgiuing iniquitie transgression and sinne c. See what a name the Lord giueth to himselfe that wee might be incouraged to come vnto him And hee not onely hath this name but he is answerable vnto it and is so indeeded and wee shall finde him to be so Many men haue better names than they deserue though some haue worse for they are said to be pitifull and gentle and courteous but when we come to deale with them wee finde it otherwise for men in iudging are oftentimes deceiued and some speake according to their owne opinion But the God of truth speaketh of himselfe as he is therefore as hee is called mercifull so he is and hath alwaies bin found to be so and shall be to the end of the world Therfore as among men to confirme vs in their good name wee consider how they haue often bin beneficiall vnto others to our selues how they haue oftentimes holpen others in their need so that we might know God to be so wholy agreeable vnto his name consider how he hath in former times bin good vnto men that haue prayed vnto him yea to our owne selues As how hee heard the crie of the Israelites in Egypt Exod. 3.8.9 when they were oppessed with his tyrannie and came downe to deliuer them and how he heard Moses for them at the red sea Exod. 14.15 and made a passage for them thorow it that they might escape their pursuers and how often he heard him for them in the wildernes both for water and for flesh Exod. 17.4 Numb 11.11 Gen. 28.10 32.9 and for deliuerances from many plagues how he heard Iacob when he fled from his brother Esau and when he met him again and deliuered him from him how he heard all the Iewes in the daies of Queene Hester and deliuered them from the mischieuous practise of Haman their enemie Hest 8.16.17 yea how he hath heard our selues praying to him publikely and priuately that so by experience we might know him to be according to his name so this name of his might incourage vs to prayer for he hath a good name most deseruedly But because of the time I must leaue this somewhat vnperfect I wil proceed in it by the grace of God the next day for I see that all things cannot be spoken at once THE SEVENTH SERMON vpon the first verse and part of the second The name of the God of Iacob defend thee COncerning the name of God spoken of here I am further to adde this That seeing neither we nor any other can pray vnto God but according to the knowledge that we haue of his name As Salomon saith in his prayer that the very stranger a farre off hearing of the name of God should be moued to come to the temple and pray there and desireth God to heare the prayers of such as well as of the Iewes 1. King 8.41 moreouer as touching the stranger that is not of thy people Israel who shall come out of a far countrie for thy Names sake when they shall heare of thy great Name and of thy mightie hand and of thy stretched out arme and shall come and pray in this house We are to pray that all nations might know the name of God that so they might seeke to him heare thou in heauen thy dwelling place and doe according to al that the stranger calleth for vnto thee that all the people of the earth may know thy name and feare thee as do thy people Israel c where wee see what should moue them to come to the Temple and pray euen the knowledge of Gods name· seeing then I say without this men cannot call vpon God we are to pray that all the Nations in the world euen the Iewes and the Turkes and those that are a far off might know the great and glorious name of God that they might ioyne themselues vnto the visible Church and with them pray vnto God serue him For according to the name of God so is our feare of him and loue to him and faith in him and also prayer vnto him Especially we are to pray for our afflicted brethren at this time and those that are visited with the pestilence that God in the midst of their troubles would make knowne vnto them his name euen how mercifull he is to al that repent as our Sauiour Christ hath most comfortably shewed in the parable of the prodigall sonne who after hee had forsaken his fathers house and had wasted all his goods with riotous liuing at the last returned vnto his father Luc. 15.13 Especially they that are visited with the plague and said Father I haue sinned against heauen and before thee and am no more worthie to be called thy sonne Then his father did not only willingly receiue him and bad his seruants bring foorth the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and shooes on his feete and kil the fat calfe and make a feast for his safe returne but when he was a great way off his father saw him and had compassion and ranne and fell on his neck and kissed him And as he hath also shewed the same mercie of God in his manifold gracious promises most louingly calling vnto him all those that truly repent as Matth. 11.28 Come vnto me all ye that are wearie and laden and I will ease you take my yoke on you learne of me that I am meeke and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest vnto your soules for my yoke is easie and my burden is light And againe the Lord saith Call vpon me in the time of thy trouble and I will deliuer thee And Psal 50 1◠Ioel. 2.32 Whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued and such like that so according to the greatnes of his name they might be moued to come vnto him in this trouble of theirs that God might heare them and help them For it is to be feared that many whose case is to bee pitied for want of this sauing knowledge of the name of God That by it they may know his name and so pray vnto him Hos 7.14 roare and crie out for the extremitie of their paine but doe not vnfainedly and from the bottome of the heart with true repentance and a liuely faith pray vnto God as the Lord complaineth of the Iewes They haue not cried vnto me with their hearts when they howled vpon their beds They are so ignorant that they know not
the name of God that is his iustice mercie power and truth Now seeing Gods name is manifest not onely in his word but in his workes of mercie and iustice for the inuisible things of God are seene in the creation and gouernment of the world as his eternall power infinit wisedome Rom. 1.20 mercie c. to leaue all men without excuse let vs pray to God for them that hee would sanctifie vnto them the one and the other euen this fatherly visitation of his vnto vs all that thereby wee and they may more and more know and feare his name euen that he is iust and hateth sin and will not make the wicked innocent Exod. 34.7 but visiteth the iniquitie of the father vpon the children and vpon childrens children vnto the third and fourth generation and that he is mercifull to all those that repent at what time so euer as wee see in the example of the theefe vpon the crosse who when at the last gaspe he confessed his sins saying to his fellow We are indeed righteously punished for we receiue things worthie of that wee haue done and cried vnto God for mercie Luc. 23.41 saying vnto Christ Lord remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome he receiued this most comfortable answere from him Verily I say vnto thee to day shalt thou be with me in Paradise That so wee might all iudge our selues thorowly now at the last that the Lord in his good time might cease iudging of vs whilest that we shall exhort one another as the Prophet willeth vs and say Come and let vs returne vnto the Lord Hos 6.1 for he hath spoyled and hee will heale vs hee hath wounded vs and he will binde vs vp And so many of vs as do know the name of God aright let vs make that good vse of it that we should namely that we seek vnto him in prayer both for our selues and for others and say as it is in the Psalme Psal 115.1 Not vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name giue the glorie for thy louing mercie and for thy truths sake that is that hee would helpe vs euen for the glorie of his name The God of Iacob The God of Iacob Whereas he speaketh not onely of the name of God but of the God of Iacob If by Iacob we mean that particular person the holy Patriarke so called because when he was borne Gen. 25.26 he held his brother by the heele in token that though hee was the yonger yet in time he should supplant his brother and preuaile against him as also hee did when he got the birthright first and then the blessing of God from him who was also afterwards called Israel that is Chap. 32.28 a mightie prince of the strong God when hee had wrastled with the Angell and preuailed with him in his returne frō Laban to shew that seeing he had preuailed with God he should much more preuaile with mē euen against all his enemies as he did against Laban Esau and others If I say it be thus taken then they in their prayers haue respect vnto that great deliuerance that God gaue vnto him against all his enemies according to his name Iacob and so by it they confirme themselues by this great experience in him They confirme their faith by the example of Iacob and so must we by his others that God would do so now to them in the like case that as he defended Iacob from his enemies so hee would defend Dauid from his and as hee heard Iacob praying in his trouble when he fled from Esau and from Laban so he would doe Dauid now And truly this was a very good meanes to confirme their hope at this time to consider the former dealing of God with others in the like case Therefore by their example we must so read and search the scriptures that we may marke and apply the examples of Gods mercie and deliuerances vpon others to our selues That we may say that that God hath done so and so to others let him deale so mercifully with me now For there is no change in God or respect of persons with him but as hee hath punished the wicked in former times and holpen the godly so will hee doe still And therefore as S. Paul doth rightly applie the examples of Gods iustice in the Scriptures to the Corinthians to keepe them from sinne saying Let not vs commit fornication as some of them committed fornication and fell in one day three and twentie thousand 1. Cor. 10. ◠neither let vs tempt Christ as some of them tempted him and were destroyed with serpents neither murmure yee as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer So doth Dauid here allude vnto the mercie of God in Iacob and applie the example of it vnto them to incourage them vnto prayer Rom. 15.4 For indeede whatsoeuer things are written afore time are written for our learning that wee through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope And truly if we would thus do Then might we haue great comfort in our prayers for euery estate then might we haue great confidence in our prayers for there should be no estate of our owne or of others but we might in the Scripture finde some example of Gods mercy shewed to them in the like case that haue sought to him for it As if we cōsider the dangers and enemies of our King which hee hath had since hee came into this realme that we might pray for him with good hope we must set before our eyes the estate of King Dauid not only before he came to the right of the crowne by the continuall and cruell practises of Saul but after that he was lawfully possessed of it by treason at home euen by the rebellion of his own children and others their confederates but yet God defended him from them all that wee might say The name of the God of Dauid defend thee that is thou God that thus diddest maintaine Dauid in his right of the kingdome against al his enemies defend thy seruant our King in his iust inheritance against all his enemies But if we consider as wee haue great cause to doe this dangerous time of the pestilence As in this pestilence from the example of Dauid that wee might bee incouraged vnto prayer let vs bethinke our selues how it was in the daies of Dauid when hee and the people had prouoked the Lord. Hee sent such a grieuous plague among them that in the space of three daies there died of it threescore and ten thousand But when Dauids heart smote him for that that he had done and he repented and confessed his sinne vnto God and did iudge himselfe for it being willing to beare the punishment himselfe that the people might be spared hauing pitie vpon them as it is written of him It is euen I that haue sinned 1. Chron. 21.17 and haue committed
meete and conuenient and this must necessarily be presumed that after prayers they should waite vpon God and marke the course of his prouidence and consider what should follow that so thereby they might beleeue that God had heard them in deed Els it might wel come to passe that God for his part should sufficiently shew that hee had heard him but they should not regarde it and so they should make this prayer in vaine that hee would shew that hee heard heard him for he hath done it already but they see it not For to make this poynt more plaine in that very comparison that is here vsed if when the sacrifice was offered and God did with fire from heauen burne it vp cleane and so turne it into ashes as he did it to Aaron to Salomon to Elijah as we haue seene before he that was there present being blind could not see it or if he turned himselfe from it another way So if we be wilfully or carelesly blind in the works of God do not mark what followeth vpon our prayers good or euill wee shall vse this prayer in vaine to pray that God would shew that he hath heard our prayers for he hath done it sufficiently but we doe not regard it Therfore it is meet for all men not only to know and to wey what they pray for and to marke it well and to thinke of it afterwards but to waite vpon God for the same and to consider what followeth that so they may see how God heareth them For as when a man putteth vp a supplication to the King he is not quiet then but his minde is running as wee say vpon it and he is very inquisitiue what is done in that matter and he marketh all things that follow to see whether they make with him or against him that so he might see whether it bee graciously receiued or no So ought wee to doe in our prayers vnto God haue our minds as it were lingering after the things prayed for and marke how euery thing that followeth may put vs in hope that God hath heard vs. And this is that that Dauid professeth of himselfe in his prayer Psalm 5.3 Heare my voyce in the morning O Lord for in the morning will I direct mee vnto thee and I will waite where hee saith that hee would doe as sutors doe they put vp their suite and then giue their attendance for an answere so hee would pray to God speedely and carefully and then he would consider what followed that so he might see how God did heare him Thus should we doe when we pray at morning and at euening Psal 40.1 So must wee all doe when wee haue prayed to God for any thing we must waite vpon him and consider what followeth And Dauid confesseth that in so doing hee did see plainly that God had heard him For so hee saith I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined vnto me and heard my crie and so shall we doe if we continue to pray vnto him and waite vpon him So that when we pray to God in the morning we should consider how things fall out all the day after well or ill that wee might see how God in bestowing many blessings vpon vs hath heard our prayers Likewise at night when wee goe to bed and pray to God that hee would defend vs from daungers and giue vs quiet rest and we awake in the morning and haue our strength renewed for the workes of our calling and al things well within the doores and without these things though they be ordinarie we should wel marke that so we might see and confesse that God did heare our prayers and so be thankfull vnto him for the same And so in al iourneis that we take in hand or matters that we go about wherein we haue commended our waies vnto God as we should alwaies doe because vpon his blessing dependeth the successe of all things we should mark how they succeed and prosper with vs that so we might see how he hath turned our burnt offrings into ashes that is how hee heareth our prayers So likewise for this sicknes And in all the prayers that are and haue been made for this pestilēce that hath been a long time amongst vs wee haue prayed vnto God to be mercifull vnto vs in it and to shew vs some token of his fauour and wee are desirous also to see that hee hath heard our prayers now then let vs consider if the extremitie of it be staied from increasing any where or if it be kept out from many places where it was likely that it should come as out of this countrie and out of this towne that so we might confesse to the glorie of God and our owne comfort that God hath heard our prayers And this is one speciall vse of the newes that we heare weekly from London Norwich and other places infected how many died this weeke how many the last how many of the plague and how many of other diseases how many parishes infected and how many are cleere that so we might see from week to week and from day to day that the Lord heareth our prayers that so by experience wee might bee moued still to call vpon him for that that remaineth Or when wee pray in the Church for any that lie sicke So when wee haue prayed here in the Church for any particular person as we haue done for diuers and doe daily whereof some haue been at deaths doore and yet haue been recouered wee should haue kept a register of them and haue marked them a great deale better than we haue done and it had been happie for vs at this time if we had done so that so we might haue by great experience been confirmed in the truth of this that God doth heare our prayers And to be short if any of vs haue bin in pouertie or in any want and haue prayed to God to helpe vs then we must marke and consider how he stirreth vp some to haue a care of vs Or who haue been in pouertie or in any need Rom. 1.20 and how some do pitie vs or any way how wee be prouided for and thus wisely obserue all Gods dealing according to our prayers in euery estate of ours That as the inuisible things of God as his eternall wisedom and power and mercy and truth are to be seen in the gouernment of the world are in his creatures as it were written in great capitall letters for the most ignorant to see and reade to leaue them without excuse so wee might in the same wisely discerne and see them and be accordingly affected with the same to beleeue in him and to bee thankfull vnto him that thus from time to time sheweth that hee doth heare our prayers And truly if wee had thus done all the daies of our life and in euery thing that we haue praied for we might haue seene better than now wee doe or can
faith in Gods promises prayeth hypocritically that is more with his tongue than with his heart Seeing then that Gods promise is sure and certaine he would not haue vs so to pray as that we should doubt and call into question whether wee should bee heard or no. And this he sheweth by an excellent and very fit comparison for as the waues of the sea are tossed and carried away so they that beleeue not both are vnquiet alwaies in their minds yea though they haue prayed and are altogether vnworthie to receiue any thing Therefore when wee come to God in our prayers let vs beforehand beleeue that hee will heare vs and so pray in faith and say as this people doth here I know that God will heare and helpe so shall our prayers be acceptable vnto God so shall we receiue that that we aske of him and so shall our minds bee pacified and quiet Few pray in any assurance that God doth heare them Let vs then examine our selues and see whether alwaies when we haue come to prayer we haue had this faith and assurance that God would heare vs and helpe vs and then we shall find that some haue beene so farre from it that they haue neuer once thought of it but they haue come to prayer neither knowing any such thing nor regarding it And thus haue they done not only in the dayes of ignorance superstition whē they held it an error for a mā to think that he might be assured of any thing from God though he prayed for it neuer so earnestly and when they prayed in an vnknowne tongue and so knew not themselues what they said and therefore could not by prayer haue any assurance that they were heard but also in this cleare light of the gospell many haue and do still both in their priuat prayers and in these publicke come so coldly to God and as it were for fashion that they neither know nor desire to know nor thinke it possible to know that God will hear them And so these wauering minded men being vncertaine in their minds and tossed too and fro like the waues of the sea may be assured That they shall obtaine nothing of God Iam. 1.7 And so obtain nothing of God as the Apostle saith But let vs endeuour to put that in practise which the people did here that euery one of vs may say I know that God will heare so shall we obtaine such things as we aske Matth 17.17 For if the disciples of our Sauiour Christ could doe nothing for the fathers child possessed with a deuill when there was most need because of their vnbeleefe then shall wee also for the same vnbeleefe of ours obtaine nothing neither for our selues nor for others when there is most need And as on the other side hee said againe vnto them That all things were possible to him that beleeueth so shall we find it to bee true in our selues then when wee pray in faith it shall be possible for vs to obtaine all things according to Gods will euen those that vnto the vnbeleeuers shall seeme impossible Now though this place of Scripture doth not so properly require to shew how wee shall come to this faith and assurance in prayer that God will heare it but rather onely that wee ought to haue it and not to pray without it yet that I might not leaue this doctrine vnperfect it is necessarie to say somewhat of it First therefore as euery good and perfect gift is of the spirit of God Iam. 1.17 and commeth from aboue euen from the father of lights so doth this most of all Act. 16.14 And as the Lord by his spirit opened the heart of Lydia that she beleeued that which Paule preached so Christ Iesus is he vpon whose shoulders as the Prophet speaketh is laid the key of the house of Dauid that is Isai 22.22 of the whole Church of God so that he onely openeth and no man can shut and he shutteth and no man can open that is he onely by his holy spirit openeth our hearts that we may beleeue and giueth vs assurance in all things of the fauour of God How this assurance of being heard is wrought in vs. therefore we must pray to him that hee would giue vs that assurance and so open our hearts that we may beleeue that he doth heare our prayers But because this is wrought in vs by meanes and our faith is grounded specially and onely vpon the promises of God and all assurance of being heard ariseth from thence we must know and beleeue and meditate vpon them before we pray that so by them we may be assured that he will heare vs according to the vndoubted truth of the same And the more that wee can doe thus the greater assurance of being heard shall we haue when we pray vnto God And besides this we must know that the same assurance is confirmed and encreased by our former experience dayly so that when we haue marked how God hath at other times and in other things heard vs we may assure our selues from thence that he will doe so now also For as among men when we haue oftentimes made triall of a friend in the time of our need wee goe to them afterwards as any necessitie shall be vpon vs with great confidence and doubt not before wee come to them but we shall speed if they haue it so vpon our former experience with the Lord we ought much more boldly to come vnto him in times of need who hath not onely promised and so is willing but being almightie is also able and being true and iust in his promises will helpe vs. And according to experience of former times some doe read this text that we haue in hand although I approoue of the other rather which I haue followed after this manner Now know I that the Lord hath saued his annointed and will heare him from his Sanctuarie and so they confirme their hope by the time past in that they haue marked the goodnesse of God towards their king in sauing him before in other dangers as he was in many and so doubt not but that hee will heare them for him now and still saue him But to returne to that that we spake of before namely How we shal come to this assurance of being heard First of all we are to consider of the promises of God First by meditating vpon Gods promises vpon which our faith must be grounded and which must giue vs assured knowledge of being heard we may see how to this end the holy Patriarch Iacob did meditate vpon them to strengthen his faith and in his prayer did as it were put God in mind of them and comfort himselfe in hope of them when he prayed thus O God of my father Abraham Gen. 32 9. and God of my father Izaack Lord which saidest vnto me Returne vnto thy countrey and to thy kindred and I will doe thee good I
by experience though God haue giuen them something Mich. 3.4 Zach. 7.13 for a man may once or twice do for his enemie and for him whom he neuer meaneth to gratifie any more Another cause then why wee haue so little knowledge in the time of our need that God will heare vs is that we haue so little acquainted our selues with prayer and that we haue not done as the Apostle willeth vs namely Phil. 4.6 in all things made our requests knowne vnto God in supplication and prayer that is we haue not so often prayed vnto him as wee haue need and so we haue not that experience that we might haue had Seeing then that this is a great blessing of God which is or should be desired of all namely to know when we pray that God will heare vs let vs come often vnto him in prayer and that I may vse the words of S. Paule In all places and vpon all occasions lift vp pure hands vnto God that we may haue often talk with God and be as it were well acquainted with him and so by experience know what account we may make of his helpe And that our experience herein might be such as it ought we must not onely pray often as hath beene said before but especially we must well see and diligently marke how God graunteth our requests and alwayes consider what hath followed vpon our prayers And then wee must marke what followeth vpon our prayers And this is that that Dauid sayth of himselfe Psal 5.4 Heare my voice in the morning O Lord for earely in the morning I will direct my prayer vnto thee and I will wait where he saith That when he had prayed vnto God he would tarrie Gods leisure and consider what followed vpon his prayers For all good experience ariseth not so much of the often practise of a thing as of the wise and diligent obseruation of the euent of it insomuch that some shall vse a thing very often and yet make little or no vse of it at all to themselues as we see some neuer marke what meat or drinke doth hurt them But the skilfull physition that hath often prescribed a medicine against such a disease and hath marked in his patient how it hath wrought and how he hath been cured by it thereby gathereth a certaine knowledge that this medicine is good for the cure of such a disease for saith he I haue not only often giuen it but haue found that many haue been cured by it and thus all rules of that art as of all other arise of experience that is of marking what was the effect of such a cause So then when a man hath not onely often prayed vnto God but hath also marked how he hath obtained his requests at the hand of God then specially from the promises of God and secondly from his owne experience of the truth of them hee gathereth a certaine knowledge that God will heare him for he considereth how according to that goodnesse that is in him and the truth of his promises he hath oftentimes heard him before Otherwise it may come to passe that though the Lord hath often heard vs For want of this we haue not that assurance from experience that we might and that in many things if we either through negligence haue not regarded it or through carelesnesse haue forgotten it we can haue little knowledge in the time of our need that he will heare vs. And thus the Lord many times in iustice punisheth the vnthankefulnesse of men who marke not his fatherly dealing towards themselues for their owne comfort and the praise of his name that though he hath often holpen them and all the world hath seene it yet in their greatest need they are in as much doubt of his goodnesse and pray with as great distrust as though he had neuer done any thing for them before As on the other side he thus in mercy and fauour plentifully rewardeth the thankfulnesse of those that often pray and call vpon him in the time of their trouble and also carefully marke and diligently remember what hee hath done for them to prayse his holy name for the same that by this good experience they know what he will doe for them for the time to come And thus it falleth out when we haue any dealing with men Thus is it when we haue any dealing with men as when in any distresse we shall be in such case that we know not whom to seeke to for helpe and we complaining of it one should say to vs Goe to such a man and then we should say nay for I know not what he will doe for me he neuer did any thing for me yet and therefore I haue no great cause to presume of his helpe Then the other shall say to vs againe yea that is not so for I remember my selfe how at such a time in such a need you had great succour and comfort from him then we being not able to denie it should say It is true indeed as you say but my memorie is so ill that I had cleane forgotten it Are we not here iustly punished for our vnthankefulnesse to doubt of a mans good will there where there was no cause So is it when by forgetting Gods mercifull dealing towards vs we doubt of his goodnesse in the greatest time of our need without any iust cause But otherwise he that well beareth in mind what benefits from time to time hee receiueth of men to be thankefull vnto them for the same he can in any distresse presently tell what to doe and say to his owne comfort as namely I will goe to such a man for I remember how often he hath done for me heretofore So fareth it with all them that marke what God hath done for them In this respect therefore it is requisit that we keepe a register of all Gods benefits We must therfore keepe a register of Gods benefits Psal 103.1 and say to our selues as Dauid doth Praise the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefits Especially we must marke diligently what things he hath done at our prayers the same Dauid also saith of himselfe This poore man cried Psal 34.6 and the Lord heard him and saued him out of all troubles And as hee in some cases did make speciall Psalmes which beare the titile of remembrance and they were made specially that by them he might keepe a thankefull memorie of Gods benefits Psal 38. so ought we to doe some thing to helpe our memorie this way especially when we see how forgetfull we are of them that so vpon long experience we might say I know that God will heare and helpe me Therefore when we haue prayed for any common benefit or for any deliuerance as feare of enemies and such like when we haue prayed in the Church here for any that haue beene sicke when for others in other cases priuatly when for our selues at home
the more may we be assured of it Dauid here in this Psalme being priuie to the goodnes of his owne heart that in sinceritie and truth hee desired to please God was bold to commend his desires vnto the people that they might commend them to God And such we may commend vnto men that he would grant them If then we would haue our prayers heard and also haue any comfort in the prayers of others for vs let vs haue no wicked or vngodly desires nothing contrarie to the will of God For such desires wee can neither our selues commend vnto God nor any other for vs neither will he fulfill them if wee should And here that wee might not wander and goe astray in our desires to our owne hearts our Sauiour Christ hath directed vs in that forme of prayer which hee taught his Disciples In which wee are taught first to pray for such things as concerne the glorie of God To this end we must follow that forme that Christ hath taught vs. the aduancement of the kingdome of Christ here vpon the earth and then for all outward things appertaining vnto this life and for life it selfe so farre foorth as they may stand with these and afterwards for the forgiuenes of our sins and for power against our temptations that wee be not ouercome If then wee pray after this manner God will heare vs as it is said in another place Seeke yee first the kingdom of God Matth. 6.33 And seeke for the direction of his spirit to teach vs to pray and his righteousnesse and all these things shall be ministred vnto you Therefore it is agreeable vnto Gods will to pray first for heauenly things and then for earthly and such prayers God will heare And yet though wee haue this forme as a direction to guide vs in our prayers many times we may be so distracted especially in some temptation that we shall not know what to aske aright Rom. 8.26 as the Apostle saith then Gods spirit in those that be his helpeth their infirmitie herein and stirreth vp in them at the least sighes and groanes that cannot be expressed which being of the spirit of God and so also according to Gods will hee heareth and granteth the meaning of them Therefore for our further direction we must pray to God for the assistance of his holy spirit in prayer that it may moderate all our desires and teach vs thus to pray according to the will of God that so hee may grant according to our heart and fulfill all our purposes as it is said here Thus did our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ himselfe pray who when hee was in such great agonies that hee said Matth. 26.38 My soule is very heauie euen vnto the death he prayed vnto God and said O father if it be possible let this cup passe from me and this hee did three times but in the end hee said Vers 42. O my father if this cup cannot passe away from mee but that I mu t drinke it thy will be done and so God heard him as the Apostle saith Heb. 5.7 That in the daies of his flesh he did offer vp prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death and was also heard in that which hee feared Luk. 22.43 Christ in prayer submitting his will to Gods will was heard For there appeared an Angell vnto him from heauen comforting him Thus his hearts desire as at all other times so in this distresse of his being according to the will of God he did grant it So look to al the prayers of Gods seruants in the old and new Testament and we shall see that when they haue submitted their wils to Gods will then he hath granted their desires Now the will of God is that we should absolutely first of all desire those things that might make for his glorie the saluation of our selues and of our brethren but al outward things so farre foorth as they may stand with these and further them and so farre will God graunt them Iacob when hee went to Laban maketh his prayer in the way after this manner Gen. 28.20 The will of God is that we preferre heauenly things before earthly Desiring God that he would be with him and keepe him in that iourney which he went and giue him bread to eate and cloathes to put on so that hee might come againe to his fathers house in safetie and in a word That he would be his God for so doe the best interpreters reade this text So that this he desired principally though it be last named That God would be his good God and continue his couenant of fauour with him to forgiue him his sinnes to increase in him all graces needfull for his saluation c and to shew his fauour this way in protecting him in his iourney though it were but in giuing him things necessarie as meate and drinke and cloathing Now because his prayer was thus agreeable to the will of God that he first desired the continuance of his fauour and then all things needfull for this life so farre as it might stand with that God heard him and hee confesseth it afterwards in his returne that the blessing of God had been greatly vpon him when he saith Chap. 32.10 And he hath heard his seruants that haue thus prayed I am vnworthie of the least of all the mercies and all the truth which thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant for with my staffe came I ouer this Iordan and now haue I gotten two bandes The like may bee said of the prayer of King Salomon That when in Gibeon the Lord appeared vnto him in a dreame by night 1. King 3.5 and sayd Aske what I shall giue thee and hee prayed thus Giue vnto thy seruant an vnderstanding heart to iudge thy people that I may discerne betweene good and euill So that hee asked wisdome that hee might bee fit to serue God in his calling This did so please the Lord that he gaue him this answere Verse 11. Because thou hast asked this thnig and hast not asked for thy selfe long life nor riches nor the life of thine enemies but hast asked for thy selfe vnderstanding to heare iudgement Beholde I haue done according to thy words loe I haue giuen thee a wise and an vnderstanding heart so that there hath been none like thee before thee neither after thee shall arise the like vnto thee And I haue also giuen thee that which thou hast not asked both riches and honour so that among the Kings there shall bee none like vnto thee all thy dayes This must teach vs all to knowe the will of God that it might direct vs in all things euen in our prayers that wee doe not rashly hand ouer head aske wee cannot tell what Let vs aske that that may further vs in our saluation as the forgiuenes of our sinnes Thus must we