out the golden scepter of his compassion to thee his rod and Psal 23. 4 his staffe may sufficientlie comfort thee 3. Because that GOD will runne n Philip. 5. 14 with the loving father to meete thee a forlorne son and will haue compassion on thee and sufficiently satisfie thee if thou be blind he will o Psal 103. 14 englighten thee if thou be creple he will p Revel 1 5 heale thee if thou bee weake hee will strengtheâ— thee 4. CHRIST if thou bee ashamed for thy pollution and filthinesse will wash q Revel 3. 18 thee with his owne blood if thou feare for thy nakednesse and sintuâ—nessâ— He hath white r Revel 3. 1â— rayment He shall bâ— to thee true righteousnesse Å¿ 1 Cor. 1.30 and sanctification who will procuâ—e thy peace and reconciliation Fourthly Thou may say it is a verie hard matter and of great Comfort to speake to God difficultie to speake and conâ—eâ—re with the LORD of Glorie But this may encourage thâ—â— GOD is thy t Iâ—r 31. 20 father thou art his child As an earthly father will dâ—light aâ—d Similit take pleasure in the babâ—iâ—g of his young bairne who by his speach can not perfectly vtter his owne mynde so thy Heavenly Father will haue mâ—re compâ—ssion u Psal 103.13 vpon thee and will take greater pleasure in thy childish speaking yea in thy babling than in all the oratorie of the wicked if thou â—hink thy selfe weake imâ—otent and ignoranâ— that as Mâ—ses was before men so thou art before GOD slow x Exâ—d 4. 10 of speach and slow of tongue yet content thy selfe with this comfort that the LORD may soone open y Psal 51. 15 thy lips and loose thy tongue that his Spirit z Rom. 8. 26 will helpe thine infirmities and when thou knowest not to pray as thou ought that Spirit it self will make request for thee with sighes which can not be expressed Fifthly If thou be perplexâ—d and sorrowfull that thou hast not a sacrifice to offer to thy GOD Comfort to a Christian who lacke a sacrifice I tell thee certainly that GOD who provided a Genes 22. 8 a burnt offering in the mountaine for Abraham hee will provide a sacrifice for thee also that will bee pleasant and acceptable to himselfe the b Psal 51. 17 sacrifices of GOD are a contrite and broken spirit a murâ—ing and melting heart hee will never despise Sixtly if thou shall thinke it too hard and dâ—ffiâ—ile for thee a weake c Psal 22. 6 worme a d Nehem 3.13 grashopper a flee to wrestle with the Almightie GOD the Creator and vpholder of Heaven and earth who will confound the mightie and malitious adversarie the Antichrist with the e â— Thess 2 spirit or breath of his mouth or with the blast of his nostrâ—ls I answere thee the LORD will giue gâ—ace and furniâ—h strengâ—h to thee albeit hee doâ—h appeaâ—e to bee angâ—ie and thine enâ—miâ— yet then Hâ—e is most favourable and frieâ—â—dâ—y he seâ—mâ—th to shake thee and to cast thee downe yet then hee vpholdâ—th thâ—e he alone gâ—veth thee power to stand and wâ—â—h Iaakob to wrestle with himselfe hee wiâ—l so hâ—pe thee that with Fpaphras f Coloss 4. 12 in thy prayers thou shall striâ—e with the Almightâ—e Seventhly Hee will so iâ—able thee with the strength of gâ—ace that thou shall prevaâ—le with him and obtaine the victorie this his Majestie will doe most willingly and mercifully as a strong father Similit skilfull in sencing will suffâ—r his young weake sonne as it were to overcome him so will thâ— LORD dâ—ale pittifully and lovingly at length with thee and oâ— his free-will and good pleasuâ—e exalt thee to that dignitie and sonour that in CHRIST g Rom. 8. 37 IESUS thou shall through GODS loue in all things be more than a Conquerour And lastly perâ—wade thy selfe certainly that GOD who is thy habitation g Psal 90. 1 from generation to generation wilâ— buâ—â—d thee vpon a sure fundation so that thou shall grow h Ephes 2. 21 vnto aâ— holy Tâ—mple vnto the LORD Moreover if thou be dâ—â—quieted because thou caâ—st not confesse Comforts for these who can not pray perfectlie thy sinnes vnsaiâ—edly thou câ—nst not lament thy wrâ—tchednesse grievousâ— thou caâ—st not aske good gifts a-rightly thou can not request for others as it becommâ—â—h thee I answere thee if there hee but a willing k 2 Cor 8. 12 Vt desint vires tamen est â—audanda voluntas Hoc ego contentos auguâ—or esse Deos. minde in thee it is accepted according to that thou hast and not according to that thou hast not â—f thou hast not gold l Exod. 25. 4 and silver silke nor scarlet to offer to thy GOD yet he will bee content with brasse with goats haire with rammes skinnes if thy heart gâ—ue them freely Yea if thou haue a â—ervent desire to doe this duetie the LORD will heare that m Psal 10. 17 desire of thine heart and bend his ears vnto thee The royall Prophet had a purpose and a desire to build a house to GOD the LORD was well pleased with his intention and so was delighted with that desire that hee made him a sure n 2 Sam. 7. 16 house hee established the same and his throne for ever Comfort thy selfe if thou find but a willingnesse and a pronnâ—sse vnto prayer for GOD will so mercifully helpe thee that thou shall practise the same and in his appointed tyme thou shall get grace to o Psal 62. 8 powre out thy heart before him who is thy hope glory and salvation Finally If thou complainest that it is too dâ—fficill and laborious Comforts for these that haue not all these graces needfull for to acquire all the graces necessarie for so holy an exercise as to bee endued with saving knowledge liuely faith true pietie fervent chaâ—itie temperate sobrietie with the rest of these gifts which must accompanie prayer acceptable to GOD This I dâ—câ—are vnto thee that albeit thou can not attaine vnto these benefites in full measure perfectly and in abâ—olute quantitie yet if thou haue them in part in a mâ—ane measure in true sinceritiâ— aâ—d in right qualitie then thou hast good cause of joy and consolation for assuredly the p Psal 125. 4 LORD will doe good to thee that art true in heart hee who loveth q Psal 51. 6 trueth in the inward affections will giue vnto thee an ample commendatioâ— Behold r Iâ—hn 1. 47 a true Israelite he will giue to thee a gâ—eat recompence his Å¿ Revel 22.12 reward is with him hee without doubt will increase t Col. 2. 19 thee with the increassing of GOD he will make thy good workes u Revel 2. 19 moe at the last then at the first He will augment his benefits and multiplie his gifts if so bee that with the true beleevers thâ—u
and not ruling in my heart powerfully and so many sorrowfull sinners a penitent Publicane may d Math. 21.31 goe to the kingdome of GOD before mee And trueth it is O LORD that I so stubbornely persevere in Malitiousnesse my wicked wilfulnesse that I will not put e Coloss 3.8 away nor f 1. Pet. 2. 1 lay aside my sinfull wrath my anger my envy hatred and maliciousnesse but I delight still to beare in my breast that fire which burneth mee to foster in my bosome that serpent which will sting mee and to keepe fast in my stomacke that poyson which will destroy mee without any regarde of thy wholsome admonitions or of myne owne safetie O righteous Iudge I confesse Intemperance that I doe delight too much for to satisfie the filthie lust of my vitiate nature for by the corruption thereof I haue walked g Rom. 13. 13 in gluttonie and drunkennesse in chalmbring and in wantonnesse and hath not cast away the workes of darknesse Moreover albeit LORD I Pride know assuredly that h Pet. 5. 8 thou resisteth the proud and givest grace to the humble and lowlie yet I doe remaine in my pride and arrogancie I i 2 Cor 8. 1 am puft vp k Isaiah 3. 18 haughtie when in the meane time l Barueh 2. 18 my soule should bee vexed within mee for the greatnesse of my sinne and iniquitie Covetousnesse and I weake in grace should goe crooked who am so wrapped in woe and miserie For I remember with feare and anxietie that I continue also in covetousnesse m Coloss 3. 5 which is Idolatrie which is the n 2 Tim. 6.10 roote of all evill and miserie this o Mark 4. 16 deceitfulnesse of riches hath entred in me subtillie it remaineth in my heart firmelie and chokes the word of GOD within mee It may at sometimes make mee mercilesse without pittie as was the rich p Luke 16. 19 Glutton at other times deceitfull without honestie as was q Genes 24.29 Laban and often hurtfull to my selfe without wisdome as was r 1 King 2. 48 Shimei But now LORD I am compelled to confesse that most abhominable Hypocrisie sinne of my dangerous and deadly hypocrisie O mercifull GOD I haue come Å¿ Isaiah 29. 13 neere thee with my lips and haue honoured thee with my mouth but I haue removed my heart farre from thee I am vtterlie astonied for that I haue spoken t 1 Tim. 4. 2 lyes with dissimulation and haue done deedes deceitfullie I u Psal 125. 4 haue turned aside by my crooked wayes I am plunged in this pudle I am almost drowned in this deluge of hypocâ—isie which is the bane of all grace pietie I by nature am like a beautifull apple rotten within who without helpe of thy Majestie will incontinent putrifie I am like a whyted tombe which x Math. 23. 27 appeareth beautifull outward but within is full of dead mens bones I am like that y Mark 11.13 figge tree which had leaues but no fruit And truely O LORD I acknowledge ingenuously Thou z Râ—â—â—l 3.2 haste not found my workes perfect before a Icrem 17.10 thee who searchest the heart and tryest the reines to giue to every one according to his wayes and according to the fruites of his workes O gracious GOD when I think and consider the infirmities imperfections Sinnes more than the sins of others and sinnes of thy owne servants and of others also where with thy Majestie was displeased and wherefore they were corrected punished their small faults their little and light sinnes if so their may bee any called doe aggrege the hainousnesse the great nesse and widenesse of my most filthie and scandalous sinnes and of my notorious and terrible transgressions Thy owne faithfull Moses b Deut. 1. 37 was chastened for his short misbeleeving at the waters of Meribah and Miriam an holy Prophetesse for c Numb 12. 18 speaking against her younger brother in the matter of his mariage and king Saul and his posteritie were deprived of his kingdome for d z Sam. 15.23 sparing olde Agag and some of the best bestiall yea an honest man of thy owne who did faithfully couragiously and duetifully discharge his calling and being seduced by an other old Prophet because of his eating of e 1 King 13.22 bread and drinking of water in a place forbidden hee did not come to the Sepulchre of his fathers but in the way was slaine by a Lyon Also thy servant Hezekiah who did vprightly in thy sight was proved for showing f 2 King 20.17 his treasure to the Babylonian Ambassadour And how fearefully was Ananias and Saphira punished for g Act. 5.3 keeping away a part of the possession which appertained to themselues and was once in their owne power The fault of Vzzah wherefore hee was slaine was the h 2 Sam. 6.6 putting his hand to the Arke and the holding it when the oxen did shake it The fault of the people of Bethshemesh O holy LORD GOD wherefore so many thousands perished was their i 1 Sam. 6. 19 looking vnto the Arke of the LORD The fault of Lots wife whom CHRIST commandeth vs to k Luke 17 33 remember was her looking backe to Sodome wherefore shee became a Pillar of salt and was made a fearefull spectacle of thy terrible indignation The fault of the Iewes was their l Numb 11. 5 rememberance of the fish and flesh pots of Egypt wherefore they m Cor. 10 5 were overthrowne in the Wildernesse Alace O LORD if my sinnes and offences were woyed n Dan. 5. 27 in the ballance they are more heavie and grievous more displeasant to thy Majestie and pernicious to my selfe I for a long season haue had within mee an evill o Heb. 3. 2 and vnfaithfull heart to depart away from thee the living GOD my infidelitie is of longer continuance and durance I haue not beene contented with my estate nor approved thy wise dealing towards me but hath p Exod. 16. 7 murmured and vttered my impatiencie I haue not mortified q Coloss 3. 5 my lusts and affections but I haue spared my strong sinnes which haue r Rom. 6. 11 had dominion over mee I haue fostered my pleasant and profitable sinnes albeit most dangerous and hurtfull vnto mee I haue drunken in iniquitie Å¿ Iob. 34. 7 like water aboundantly and I haue delighted my selfe to glutte t Psal 141. 4 in the delicates of the vngodly I haue beene puft u Habb 1. 14 vp with vaine glorie and ostentation I haue beene given to fraud and oppression I haue beene a bussie x 1 Tim. 5. 13 bodie and hath passed the limites of my vocation I haue beene given to curiositie and haue beene y Rom. 11. 20 high minded I haue looked frequently vpon sinne and the world with the which I
obtaine health and salvation Fourthly and finally Wonderfull Thou shall find â—undry im pediments great is the difficultie of prayer in regard of these stayes and impediments that will meete with thee partly in respect of Sathan thine adversarie Surely as hee x Thess 2. 18 hindered the Apostle Paul from going to the Thessalonians much more will hee striue to his vttermost power to hinder thee from going to thy GOD and from making of prayers and supplications and as Amalek y Ezech. 17. 8 faught with Israell when they were in their journey to earthly Canaan so much rather will the devill fight against thee with all his force and firie z Eph. 6 16 dartes when thou art in thy journey and making humble prayer and petition Againe partly in respect of thy selfe for with the Disciples thou shall find thy eyes a Math. 26.43 heavy thy selfe subject to sleepinesse and with Moses thy hands b Ezech. 17. 12 heavy thou will let them fall downe and thy knees c Heb. 1â— 12 weake that thou can not endure of thy selfe vnlesse thou bee strengthned Thus farre of the wonderfull great difficultie of prayer now it is meete to giue some consolations that thou be not too much discouraged and dismayed CONSOLATIONS FOR WEAKE CHRISTIANS The twelfth Chapter FOR as much as the weake Christian a a 1 Cor 14.20 child in vnderstanding vpon the deepe meditation of the difficulty of praying may bee heavily perplexed and greatly discouraged and with feare sorrow and bitternesse of minde thus reason if so it be that true prayer bee so hard a worke to doe it is impossible for mee to performe the same Surely I say as a faithfull Messinger b Iob. 33. 23 a wise interpreter is very rare one of a thousand who can declare to a man his righteousnesse so a feeling petitioner is also very rare who with a wounded conscience complaineth in this poynt of his owne weaknesse and of the Rara avis in terris nigroque simillima â—igno difficultie of this exercise But of a great number if one be found who is exceeding sorrowfull that he can not pray powerfully as hee desireth to doe and therefore lamenteth bitterly and is troubled c 1 Sam. 1. 15 in spirit inwaâ—dâ—y when hee considereâ—h that dâ—fficultie and these many impediments which trouble him I most humbly and earnestly intreate GOD who d 2 Cor. 1. 4 comforteâ—h his owne in all tribâ—lation to maâ—e me aâ—â—â— to comfort these that are in this afflâ—ction and â—o giue them some conteâ—tment in this tribuâ—ation Now first if thou complaine that thy heart is tyed and so fixed into this vaine world so that as A comfort to a Christian coÌ„plainiâ—g that he cannotleaue the world Moses e Heb. 11. 27 forsooke Egype so thou can not forsake this present world I say it is of trueth and veritie thou can not doe it boldly yet if thou labour to leaue it spiritually it is verie well for thee and if as Hadad the Edomite in Egypt enjoyed honour pleasure and plentie taking f 1 King 11. 22 nothing yet would not remaine there but in any wayes would goe to his owne country so if thou abiding in this earth where is g Ecles 1. 14 vanitie and vexation sinne and transgression and wearie of this world which h 1 Iohn 5. 19 lyeth in wickednesse shall in some measure haue thy conversation i Philip. 3. 20 in Heaven seek those k Col. 3. 1 things which are aboue beg for the helpe of GODS Spirit that the LORDS power l 1 Cor. 12. 9 may bee made perfect in thee that he who did separate m Gal. 1. 15 thee from thy mothers wombe and who did separat the n Genes 1 4 light from darknesse may also giue thee grace to o 2 Cor. 6. 17 come out from among the wicked and separate thee to himselfe that thou mayest sit p Eph. 2. 6 together with the Saints in such Heavenly places prepared for thee before the foundation of this world was laide Secondly If thou bee sorrowfull that it is too hard for thee yea altogether impossible â—or to goe vp to Heaven yet I may bee Comfort to one who cannot ascend to Heaven bold to persâ—ade thee that thy Saviour ascended q Ephes 4. 10 farre aboue all Heavens to fill all things He will r Psal 37. 24 put his hand vnder thee Hee will Å¿ Iohn 12. 32 draw thee to himselfe If there bee force and veâ—tue in that Similit Plinius August pretious stone the Magnet to draw heauie yron to it assuredly there is much more stâ—ength in CHRIST IESUS to draw t Cant. 1. 3 thee vnto him to knitte u Psal 86. 11 and vnite thine heart vnto him that thou mayest feare his holy Name And Similit Aâ—isâ—ot Zanâ—hius if there bee power in the naturall Sunne by the hotte vigour thereof to dâ—aw vp from the sea and earth vapours and exhalations to the mid region of the aire experience and Naturalists teach the same Certainly there is much more power without comparison in the SONNE x Mal. 4. 2 of Righteousnesse CHRIST IESVS to draw vp thy heart and affection vnto the third Y Heaven He in his owne tyme will giue grace and furnish strength to thee that thou shall say with DAVID z Psal 25. 1 Vnto thee O LORD lift â— vp my soule and â— lift a Psal â—21 1 vp my eyes aboue the mountains vnto thee O LORD from whence mine helpe commeth I b 1 Tim. 2. 8 lift vp to thee pure hands without wrath And c Act. 4. 24 I lift my voyce to GOD to pray to thy Majestie to praise thy holy Name as it becommeth mee Thridly If thou thinke it both dreadfull and dangerous for thee Comfort for a Christian to draw neerâ— to GOD. who art filthie who art guiltie who art as chaffe before the fire and dust d Gen 18. 25 and ashes before the wind for to approach and appeare before GOD who e Iob. 15. 15 found no stedfastnesse in his Saincts and in whose sight the Heavens are not cleane not f Iob. 25. 4 the Moone nor Starres I answere thee albeit that bee of veritie yet thou may come before his Maiestie with courage and thou may be well hearted to goe boldly g Heb. 4. 16 vnto the throne of grace for these reasons 1. because hee h Math. 11. 28 calleth vpon thee favourably who art weariâ— and laden as the Patriarchs were i Genes 45. 3 astonied at Iosephs presence because of their sinne against him and of their evill conscience yet when he said to them come k neere vnto me they came neere 2. As Ahasuerus l Esther 5. 2 held out his golden scepter to Esther fearing danger she found faâ—our so the breaking m Ierem. 10.7 of the nations holdeth