lawes of regeneration in that l â—â—ch 13. 1 fountaine opened to the house of David for sinne and for vncleannesse Grant LORD that with indeavour and industrie I keepe my selfe pure and holy vnspotted m Iam 1. 27 of this wicked world that I may cast n Rom. 13. 12 away the workes of darknesse and so walke honestlie as in the day continually And seing O LORD like o â—sal 119.176 a Pray for conversion lost sheepe I haue gone astray and wandred farre out of that narrow way seeke thy servant and find mee turne me that I may turne convert p Ierem. 31.18 mee and I shall bee corverted turne mee O most mightie and mercifull GOD from the devill myne adversarie a q Iohn 8. 44 lyar and a murtherer who would deceaue mee and destroy mee to IESUS CHRIST my Saviour and r Ephes 5. 29 husband who will teach mee and glorifie Å¿ Psal 91. 15 mee turne me from t Coloss 3.13 darknesse to thy joyfull light from nature to grace turne mee from the broad u Math. 7. 13 way that leadeth to hell and damnation to the strait way which leadeth to Heaven and salvation turne mee from wickednesse to holynesse from wretchednesse to everlasting happines O my GOD draw x Cant. 1.3 mee after thee knit y Psal 86.11 and vnite my heart inseparablie with thy Majestie teach mee thy wayes to feare thine holy name continually to z Genes 17. 1 walke before thee and with thee consciensciously and be vpright in thy sight continually And for this effect O thou Al-sufficient GOD take a mercifull Pray for Gods good dealing with thine heart dealing with my faultie heart that the same which by nature sinne and Sathan hath locked with Lydias a Act. 16. 14 heart it may bee opened by thee who hath b Revel 3. 7 the key of David Grant that my narrow heart may bee c Isaiah 60. 5 enlarged to receaue within mee the LORD IESUS the King of glory O holy Heavenly Father soften e my hard and obdurâ—d heart with the oyle of grace with the precious blood of my Saviour d Iob. 23. 16 that it may receaue the impression of the image of CHRIST that I d 2 Cor. 3. 18 may bee changed into the same image from glory to glory Bow my stiffe e Ezech. 2 4 heart Encline it f Psal 119. 36 to thy testimonies and not to covetousnesse O LORD giue mee a wise and vnderstanding g 1 King 2. 9 heart that I may discerne betweene good and bad O LORD vouchsafe vpon mee an honest h Luke 8 15 and good heart that I may heare thy Word keepe it and bring foorth fruite with patience and O my GOD I most willingly giue i Prover 23 26 mine heart to thy Majestie requiring the same from mee beseeching thy goodnesse to take such full possession and governement of my heart that thou may k Rom. 9. 23 declare the riches of thy glory vpon mee a vessell of mercie that I may be most certainly perswaded a chosen l Act. â— 15 vessell appointed for honour and everlasting happinesse O my blessed Creator assure Pray for the grouth of all good mee that I am thine owne m 1 Cor. 3. 9 husbandry Grant that I may bee as good n Math. 13. 8 ground to receaue the good seede of godlinesse and pietiâ— and to bring foorth fruite aboundantly that I may grow o 2 Pet. 3. 18 in grace and in the knowledge of IESVS CHRIST my LORD and Saviour O LORD helpe p Mark 9. 24 my vnbeliefe and encrease my faith my loue patience zeale feare hope courage and all Christian vertues make my good â—orkes q Revel 2. 19 to be moe at the last than at the first O my most mercifull Fatherâ— Pray for the Lords presence Teach r Psal 27. 11 mee thy way and leade mee in a right path Forsake Å¿ Psal 38. 21 me not O LORD bee not far from mee my GOD Thou t Psal 27. 9 art my succour leaue mee not neither forsake mee O GOD of my salvation Though my father and my mother should forsake mee yet thou O LORD will gather mee vp Though u Psal 38. 10 the Light of mine eyes bee not myne owne my sight will faile mee my senses will departe from mee my soule will be separate from my body yet abide thou with mee continually O gracious GOD I most humbly intreate thy Majestie giue mee x Rom. 1. 24 not vp to my hearts lusts nor vile affections for that I will bee but a lost creature and of all most wretched and miserable But O LORD of thy vnspeakable Pray for God his blessing kindnesse and endlesse mercie vouchsafe thy Heavenly and spirituall blessings vpon mee O GOD blesse mee with the blessing of election that thou mayest chuse mee y Psal 65. 4 and cause mee to come to thee that I may be satisfied with the pleasures of thine holy Temple Blesse mee with the blessing of effectuall vocation that thou mayest call mee inwardly and powerfully to thee that I may answere and obey thy blessed calling and say heere z Genes 22 â— am I readie to doe thine holy will Blesse mee O LORD with the blessing of true sanctification that I may bee holy a Levit. 11. 24 as thou my GOD is most holy that I may keepe b Isaiah 56. 2 judgement and doe justice and restraine my hand from doing any evill Blesse mee with the blessing of spirituall joy and consolation that I may ever rejoyce c Psal 40. 4 in thee my LORD and walke in the light of thy countenance Blesse mee O my GOD with a setled purpose and resolution to serue thee continually that I may determine d Psal 119. 57 to keepe thy Words constantly Blesse mee with the blessing of true repentance through all my lyfe that I may e Revel 20. 6 haue parte in the first resurrection that the second death haue no power to hurt me Blesse mee with an happie end that I may die f Revel 14. 13 in the LORD and receaue the blessing of glory and inherite g Math. 25.34 the Kingdome prepared from all eternity As also O LORD I most humbly beseech thy goodnesse to blesse me with thine owne selfe to bee h Psal 16. 5 my lot and portion to bee the GOD i Psal 27. 9 of my salvation For whom k Psal 73. 25 haue I in Heaven but thee and I haue desired none in earth with thee Grant O gratious GOD that as l Psalm 42. 1 the Hart brayeth for the rivers of waters so my soule may pant after thee the living GOD vntill thou come to be favourable vnto me Blesse mee with CHRIST IESUS that he may be my m Heb. 7. 2 King governing mee my n Math. 1. 21
TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTIE RIGHT VERTVOVS AND MOST CHRISTIAN PRINCE KING CHARLES OVR DEARE AND DRAED SOVERAIGNE LORD BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF GREAT BRItaine France and Ireland c. Most gratious Soveraigne THis is vsuall since naturall that any good earnestly desired when it is tyMously offered is then favourably received Did Isaak loue venisome that meate was acceptable to him Did King David a valiant warriour 2 Sam. 17. 8 affect victorie and renowne a sword in season was most steadable 1 Sam. 21. 9 vnto him Did Salomon delight in policie and stately building the wise worke-men and wood sent from Hiram was welcome vnto 2 Chron. 2. 13 hiâ—â— Did Iosiah rejoyce in holynesse and learning the booke of the Law which was brought to him 1 King 22. 10 hee heartily heard the same reade before him Did Charles the Great reverence and regarde rare knowledge Chron. Carion lib 〈…〉 alii all vertuous good counsell and direction then most worthie Alconius disciple to venerable Bede who well instructed the Emperour both in Divinitie and Philosophie was ever most lovingly and honorablie entertained by his imperiall Majestie and mee thinketh certainly that this of all tended most to his greatest honour and felicitie because it was spoken of him truely Carolus plus cum DEO quam cum hominibus loquitur Now this is most sure without any contraversie or contradiction that true prayer and earnest supplication is an incomprehensible and vnspeakable good seing it is 1 Cor. 3.9 Heavenly foode for sustentation a sharpe sword for victorie and protection which will make one GODS blessed building which will beget all pietie and all happie learning will bread saving knowledge and all Heavenly vertues wise counsell and good direction which will vndoubtedly bring one to everlasting glory and salvation For as much then your sacred Majestie GOD bee thanked doth delight your selfe in the Lord GOD continually who will giue Psal 37. 4. you your hearts desire for his owne glory and doth earnestly loue affect and vse frequently this most holy honorable and profitable exercise of prayer and invocation which will procure all spirituall and temporall blessings happinesse eternall praise and commendation I therefore most humbly with all submission and reverence entreate your most excellent Majestie to accept favourably this small treatise worthie indeede in respect of the matter albeit not so in regard of mee the weake author who ever shall most instantly beseech the Almighty to watch over your Majestie by his continuall and fatherly providence which is as a wall of fire round about Zach. 2. 5 you and to guard you by his mightie Angels who will keepe Psal 91.11 you in all your wayes and to giue you an happie successe in all your honourable enterprises and to compasse you with his favour as with a shield yea to vouchsafe grace Psal 5.12 and honour heere in this earth with glory and happinesse in his Celestiall Kingdome for ever From Dysart the 28 of May. 1630. Your Majesties most humble obedient and loyall servant WILLIAM NARNE AD Potentissimum Serenis SIMVM PRINCIPEM CAROLVM DEI GRATIA MAGNAE BRITANNIAE FRANCIAE ET Hiberniae Regem illustrissimum De vi praestantia orationis Carmen ENthea stelliferum penetrans oratio Coelum Iudicis aetherei pergit ad ora tui Te columem clarum cumulatum laude perenni Felicem Regem reddit eximium gemma rutilante modo ditabere miro Durabit firmum nobile stemma domus Hoc ense assuesces tu debellare profanos Armipotens magni muneris instar erit Hac clavi claudes Orcum reserabis Olympum Charus eris populo charior atque Deo Hoe libro doctus mysteria magna Tonantis Addisces factis magnus eloquio Hoc curru vectus trans ignea maenia mundi Ingrediere locos palmifer aethereos Sereniss tuae Majest humillimus addictissimus servus GUIL NARNE AD AMICVM FIDELEM VIGILANTEM PASTOREM ET ERVDITVM GVILIELMVM NARNVM CARMEN ORans exores qui sic ratione peroras Non deserta tua est 〈◊〉 diserta docens Hâc itur ad superos infra tollure restictâ Te monstrante peto quaeroque pulso viam Profice scribendo seribas quoque proficiendo Scribas vt prosis frairibus atque tibi Aliud DEsertum nactus Christi vt praecursor eremum Vtrumque at celebrem vos facitote locum Aliud CIrrha Helicon Pindus Parnassus Apollo Aganippe Castalij latices turbaque Pieridûm Haec me si faciant vatem divûmque Poetam Haud caenerem ingenio carmina digna tuo Nostra tuo ingenio si non sunt digna beato Sat scio sunt genio carmina grata tuo IO. MICHAELSONE TO THE RIGHT VERTVOVS AND VVorshipfull Patrons OF THIS FAMOVS CITIE OF EDINBURGH DAVID AIKENHEAD MOST WORTHIE LORD PROVEST Iames Cochren William Reid Andrew Ensley Edward Edgar most just and faithfull Iudges Ioseph Marjoribanks Dane of Guild David Mackald Treasurer And to the whole Counsell within this flourishing Towne of EDINBVRGH wisheth Grace heere and Glory heereafter Wil. Narne SOmetimes Right worshipfull and reverend comming vnto your citie for performance of some necessarie dueties of my calling I did soone and clearly perceaue three most notable commendable and worthie vertues wherewith by the Almightie yee are truely beautifull and blessed First Pure religion and pietie Secondly Affection to your King and sincere loyaltie Thirdly A care of your commoun-wealth and countrey Your religion in whose bosome all other vertues are conteined which is the belt and bond that vniteth Religionis gremio omnes virtutes continentur Idoneus and knitteth the heart to GOD without the which men haue no more to doe with Heaven and Psal 86. 11 Si Relligio tollitur nulla nobis ratio cum Coelo est Lactant. institut lib. 3. c. 10 1 Cor. 15. 19 of all creatures they are most miserable doeth most evidently appeare by your frequent resorting to the house of GOD by your diligent hearing of his holy Word by the great respect and due regard yee haue of your faithfull Pastors and by your holy life and pious conversation conforme to the rule of the LORD his Commandements and shortlie by your rare charitie in these last and worst dayes of this dotting and decaying world extending it selfe to the depauperate and indigent members of the bodie of CHRIST Concerning your due affection to your supreame Soveraigne all who walke vpon your streetes may easily obserue the same What earnest desire you haue What preparation you haue made for his Majestie comming into this Realme And this is most certaine that you haue and will continue lovingly and willingly subject not for wrath only but much more for conscience Rom. 13. 5 sake according to Christian duetie Touching the third Your W. care for your commoun-wealth is so great and continuall so manifest and profitable that it is worthis of admiration commendation and imitation Heerein you neede no words
Psal 26. 6 hands in innocencie and then compasse the LORDS Altar hee must put a Exod. 3. 5 off his shoes and cast b Heb. 12 1 away his sinnes and put c Rom. 13. 14 on the LORD IESVS and bee arrayed with his righteousnesse Thou must haue written on thine head HOLYNESSE d Exod. 39. 30 TO THE LORD and sanctifie e 1 Pet. 3. 15 GOD in thine heart and bee renued according to his glorious image and then send vp thy prayers into the Highest for it is most true that GOD f Iohn 9.31 heareth not sinners who continue in their sinne with delectation Fourthly to the end thy supplication may bee acceptable to Charitie the Almighty thou of necessicie also must haue towards thy neighbour true loue and charitie in the which if thou g Iohn 4. 12 dwell thou dwellest in GOD and GOD in thee So thou mayest know that thou h Iohn 3. 14 art translated from death to lyfe because thou lovest the brethren If thy soule i 1 Pet. 1. 22 bee purifyed in obeying the trueth through the Spirit thou will loue brotherly without faining then thou mayest pray comfortably without any Isiodor Etym. lib. 6. Nullum in vul nere proficitmedicamen tum si adhuc in eo ferrum sit sic nihil proficit oratio illius cuius adhuc odium in pectore vel do lus maneat in mente doubting As no salue nor medicament will profite or bring health to a wound if the yron remaine therein so thy petition will bee vnprofitable if hatred abyde in thy brest or deceite in thy minde If thou haue not the fire of GODS Spirit within thee and ardent affection to warme thee then doubtlesse thou shall haue the fire of malice anger and hatred which will consume thee If thou with Nahab k Levit. 10. 2 and Abihu offer strange fire before the LORD a fire may comeâ— out from the LORD to devoure thee and albeit thou wouldest l 1 Cor. 13. 3 giue thy body to bee burned and woâ—l lest feede the poore with all thy goods and hath not loue it profiteth nothing thy selfe thy prayer shall not bee regardâ—d nor acceptable to GOD neither profitable to thy owne selfe because as an ancient affirmeth Nihil est pretiosius DEO virtute dilectionis nihil desider abilius diabolo extinctione charitatis Their is nothing more precious vnto GOD than the vertue of loue their is nothing more desired to the devill than the extinguishing of charity Leaue l therefore thy offering before m Math. 5. 24 the Altar saith our Saviour goe thy way first be reconciled vnto thy brother and then come and offer thy gift and send vp to GOD thine humble supplication Fiftly thou who desirest to Sobrietie pray arightly thou must be endued with temperancie and sobrietie and so as CHRIST commandeth thee more conveniently thou will watch m Math. 26.41 and pray that thou enter not into tentation thou will bee n 1 Pet. 5. 8 sober vigilant and fit for prayer This vertue of temperance is the leader and moderatrix Temperantia est actionum auriga moderatrix of our actions Intemperancie will greatlie sunder thee from this holy duetie it is the greatest degree of filthy shame and miserie And therefore Xerxes after deliberation did Spinaeus in vo lupt lib. 5 inflict the highest punishment vpon the Babylonians when againe he subdued them after their rebellion hee did prohibite the vertuous exercises of arts and sciences and enjoynd them to giue themselues to idlenesse play banquetting and surfetting and to all luxurie and voluptuousnesse Take o Luk. 21. 34 heede therefore to thy selfe lest at any tyme thy heart bee oppressed with sursetting and drunkennesse and the cares of this lyfe least that day come on thee at vnwares Watch therefore and pray continually Ioyne p 2 Pet. 1. 5 therefore with vertue knowledge and with knowledge temperancie which as the Philosopher affirmeth is Arist Ethic. lib. 6 cap. 5 Fervencie the preserver of all other good qualities and then surely q Iam. 5. 16 thou shall not be idle nor vnfruitefull in the knowledge of the LORD IESVS CHRIST Sixtly If thou wish thy petition profitable thou must pray with an vehement and earnest affection for r Genes 32. 28 the prayer of a righteous man availeth much if it bee fervent Remember well I beseech that all pious professors who hath s had power with GOD were ever most ardent in their requests Consider diligentlie and follow faithfully in the vttermost of all thy power the fervencie and ardor of good Kings David saith As Å¿ Psal 42. 1 the Hart brayeth for the rivers of water so panâ—et my soule after thee O GOD and Hezekiah incline t Isaiah 37. 17 thine â—are O LORD and heare open thine eyes O LORD and see And godle Prophets Daniel crying O u Dan 9. 19 â— LORD heare O LORD forgiue O LORD consider and Habbakâ—k praying O LORD x Habb 3. 2 reviue thy works in the midst of thy people in wrath remember mercie But principally consider y Heb. 3. 1 the Apostle and high Priest of our profession CHRIST IESUS which in z Heb. 5.7 the dayes of his flesh did offer vp prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares Our blessed MASTER in a Luk. 22. 44 his most bitter and heavie agonie Hee prayed most earnestly with great fervencie and his sweate was like drops of blood trickling downe to the ground Many indeede doe mervell at that most illustrious George Castriot Abrahamus Scultetus in lib. de precat cap. 19. Scanderbeg the peerelesse Prince of Epirus in whom they write was so great ardor into fighting that the blood would burst furth out of his lippes but surely one hath greater cause to wonder at the fervencie of our SAVIOUR who was so vehement in praying that a bloodie sweate came not from his lippes only but also from his whole bodie in great abundance Follow then the ardent zeale and fervencie of thy Master and take good heede I beseech thee that thou doe b Ier. 48. 10 not the worke of GOD negligently least thou bee subject to GODS curse and miserie that thou c Revel 3. 16 be not cold nor luckewarme least CHRIST spue thee out of his mouth most shamefully Quomodo Cyprianus in sermone de oratione Domini te audiri à DEO postulas cum ipse te non audias How can thou require thy selfe to be heard of GOD when thou hearest not thy selfe by sloathfulnesse coldnesse or distractions But thou call vpon GOD with a vehement desire and earnest affection So did Samson for earthly water saving LORD d Iudg. 15. 18 shall I die for thirst more fervently shouldst thou pray for the water of the Well of life for thine aeternall consolation Seventhly Aboue all labour Sinceritie with continuall care and industrie
earth were formed from everlasting to everlasting hee hath beene thy GOD. Againe this divine care is not like the care of mortall men that hath paine and Attenuant vigiles corpus miserabile cuâ—ae Cura quoque interdum nullo medicabilis aâ—â—e trouble with it which weakeneth the bodie and vexeth the soule and can by no worldly meanes be well helped but it is an easie care with alsufficiencie of pleasure for hee that beareth h Heb. 1. 3 vp all things by his mightie Word may with all facilitie care for his owne and that particularlie therefore thou may thinke vpon this care most comfortablie Habebit curam tui qui fecit te quique habuit curam tui priusquam esses GOD who made thee will haue a care of thee who had a care of the before ever thou was hee will so regard thee that thou shall be a i Isaiah 62. 3 crowne of glorie in the hand of the LORD and a royall diademe in the hand of thy GOD. Secondly GODS care towards It is a great care thee will bee a great care if a mortall man will care for his inheritance to keepe the same this did k 1 King 21.3 Naboth who refused to sâ—ll his heritage to king Ahab much more wâ—ll the LORD care for the godâ—ie soules who pray to him he doth esteeme of them greatlie as the sanctified soule will cry vnto GOD thou l Psal 142. 5 art my portion so the LORD will answere aâ—d assure that soule that she is his m 1 Cor. 3.9 building his temple his husbandrie and pâ—rpetuall possâ—ssion Thirdly â—he LORDS care will bee mâ—st joyfull to thee and effâ—ctuall It is effectuall a fatherly care a princely care Seing hee is â—ur Heavenly Father yea the n Heb. 12. 9 Father of our spirits much more rich thaâ— Abraham who could not make all his children his heires for hee sent o Genes 25. 6 them away from him and Isaac himself also while hee was living but our most wealthie and heavenlie Father will make all his children also p Rom. 8. 17 his heires annexed with Iesus Christ Our heavenly Father is much more powerfull than David was who had no sufficient power to make all his sonnes Kinges but our liberall Father giveth vs q Pet. 1.14 an inheritance immortall and vndefiled that fadeth not to all his children whom he careth for sufficientlie Haereditas non minuitur copia possessorum nec fit angustior numerositate Augustin cohaeredum sed tanta est multis quanta paucis tanta singulis quanta omnibus This inheritance is not diminished by abundance of possessours neither becommeth strait by number of coheires for it is as much to manie as few and as much to everie one as to all for he that is r Rom. 10. 12 Lord over all is rich vnto all that call vpon him and will giue everie one of his Saints a Å¿ Heb. 12. 28 Kingdome which can not bee shaken which endureth for â—ver and ever Now during the time of our pilgrimage whiles t 2 Cor. 5.6 wee are at home in our body and absent from the Lord and hath not attained to the present possession of that Kingdome 1. â—e will haue a care of our sustentation 2. a care of our preservation 3. a care of our instruction 4. a care of our consolation 5. a care of our marriage band 6. a care of our blessednesse and happinesse Behold u Math. 6 â—6 the fowles of the heaven for they sowe not neither reape nor carrie into the Barnes yet our heavenly Father feedeth them are we not saith our Saviour much better than they Did x Genes 28.2 Isaac care through his fatherly affection for Iacobs safetie will not GOD in greater affeâ—tion regarde the safetie of our â—â—ules who doe consecrate our â—â—lâ—es to his service Also if that royall Prophet was verie carefull to giâ—e good instruction and y Prover 4. 2 good doctrine to his wise sonne Salomon tender and deare in the sight of his parents will not our most wise and provident Father bee more carefull to z Isaiah 44. 3 poure his spirit and his blessing vpon his owne to a Ier. 31. 33 put his Law in their inward parts and to write it in their hearts and to giue b 2 Peter 1. 3 vnto them all thinges that pertaine vnto life and godlinesse through the knowledge of him that hath called them to glorie and vertue Moreover hee is c 2 Cor. 1. 3 the GOD of mercies and the Father of all consolation he will haue a speciall care to comfort all his children in all their tribulation If Edna was carefull to comfort her daughter Sarah who d Tob. 7. 17 wiped away her teares and spake comfortablie vnto her much more our LORD who though e Psal 27. 10 father and mother should forsake vs yet wil hee gather vs vp will also comfort vs and providentlie prepare a better marriage for vs than f Genes 24. 3 Abraham did for Isaac namelie the King of glories owne sonne to be our husband who g Eph. 5. 25 will sanctifie vs nourish vs and cherish vs who will make vs honorable and happie for ever and ever 4. If thou shall invocat GOD Gods caâ—e is teâ—â—deâ— câ—m passionat arightlie hee will haue a tender and compassionate care for thee who h Iohn 3. 16 hath so loved thee that he hath given his first borne for thee who i Rom. 8. â—2 hath not spared his owne sonne but gaue him to the death for thee that k Iohn 4 9 thou mayest live eâ—ernally through him hee will take care of thee as of the member of his owne body thus l Zech. 2. 8 will the LORD of hosts say that hee that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his owne eye And if Zaleucus a ruler and law giver of Locris did so pittie his Valer maxim sonne found guiltie of the crime lib. 6. cap 5 of adulterie who therefore conforme to a constitution made by his Father should haue lost both his eyes and so bee deprived of all sight this Zaleucus did not spare himself but pulling out one of his owne eyes and another of his sonnes left the vse of seeing to them both and so behovâ—d himself a mercifull and pitifull Father and a iust or vpright Law-giver Also if Codrus a â—ing of Athens of great nobilitie and greater affection and pittie who for his subjects safetie did suffer yea seek death most willingly for when hee received a response of an oracle that his enemies the people of Peloponesus should bee victorious and rulers if they did not Virgilius in Fâ—logis kill the King of their adversaries Codrus deceived them for in the Aut Alconis habes laudes aut iurgia Codri habite of a beggar by chyding and vpbraiding hee provoked them to slay him and vnknowne to any hee died for his
them that fight against thee yet if thou continue to call vpon GOD fervently thou mayest well perswade thy selfe of the certaintie of this victorie for nec vulneratus nec prostratus nec conculcatus fraudaberis Lactant firmian â— victoria neither albeit thou bee wounded casten downe and trampled vnder-foote thou shall bee frustrated of the victorie for albeit thou bee slaine stoned p Heb. 11. 37 or hewen asunder dead and buried yet thou shall rise againe with CHRIST and triumph gloriously and remaine with him in perpetuall felicitie but of this more Godwilling when wee shal treate of the effect of prayer Lastly Albeit thou shall find sensiblie that thou art a strong Israelite that thou hast q Gen. 32. 28 had power with GOD and hast prevailed with men yet bee not secure and sloathfull farre lesse proude r Rom. 1â— 20 and high minded but labour carefully albeit with difficultie to builde an house for thy GOD who hath ever helped thee whose presence is most necessarie for thee When Moses was delivered from the bondage of Egypt and Pharaoh with his enemies drowned then hee remembred with thankfulnesse I Å¿ Exod 15. 2 will build a Tabernacle to GOD. When GOD did remember David mercifully and freede him from all his adversitie hee thus protested that hee t Psal 132. 4 would not suffer his eyes to sleepe nor his eye-lids to slumber vntill he had found out a place to the GOD of Iaakob an habitation to the mightie GOD of Israel So when thy GOD shall thinke vpon thee who art poore and needie and shall succour thee with his strength joyfully then labour thou carefully to prepare a place for thy GOD that he may delight to dwell with thee that u Revel 2. 6 his soule may never loath thee take paines that thou may bee x 2 Cor. 6. 16 the temple of the living GOD who hath given the victorie If these martiall men two great commanders and conquerours Plutarch Stephanus Alexander and Augustus did build or repare that citie called Nicopolis were carefull when they gained an earthly victorie to haue a remembrance and monument of that glorie Thou hast greater cause to build an house for thy God and adorne the same continually to proclame his praises publictly and with his Prophet to sing thankfully Blessed y Psal 144. 1. 2 be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hand to fight and my fingers to battell hee is my goodnesse and my fortresse my towre and my deliverer my sheild and my buckler in him will I trust but know this for a suretie that it shall bee a matter of great importaâ—ce and difficultie If Tatnai and Shetherboznai with Ezra 5. 3 their companions did labour to hinder the materiall temple from being built will not Sathan and sinne with the wicked world labour and indevoure to their vttermost to stay and impede the building reparing of that inward temple Secondly prayer is wonderfull Prayers difficle in respect of the parts thereof difficile in regard of the practising of all the parts thereof for it is a hard matter to make true confâ—ssion of thy sinnes and transgrâ—ssions Of confession with a contrite a Psal 51. 17 and broken heart with a faithfull and believing heart that thou may say sincerelâ— yet b Daniel 9. 9 compassion and forgivenesse is with the LORD and with an vpright and honest heart of purpose to c Ezech. 10. 3 make a covenant with the LORD for to d Ephes 4. 1 walke worthy of that vocation wherevnto thou art called Againe it is very difficile to Of Lamentation lament for thy sinne and iniquitie for to e Luke 22. 62 weepe bitterly with repenting Peter and to powre out thy f Psal 56. 8 teares in the Lords bottle into his owne register As it was a very hard matter to g Psal 105.41 open the Rocke and to cause h Ezech 17. 6 water come out of it so it is to soften the i Ezech. 11. 19 stonie heart and to bring out thereof the teares of godly sorrow and contrition which lead to repentance or conversion Moreover it is an hard matter to make a petition to the Almightie Of petition for if k Genes 44. 18 Iudah the Patriarch a man of wisdome courage and aâ—tion estâ—emâ—d it both difficile and dangâ—rous to make a petition to â—oseph for his innocent brother Benjâ—min thou may thinke it hard for thee to make request to the Almightie for thy selfe who art so guiâ—tie that thou mayest come to Heaven and felicitie seeing thou hast deserved hell and endlesse miserie Lastly because thou may m 1 King 2.44 know Of request for others the wickednesse wherevnto thy heart is privie and thy owne conscience condemneth thee for thy trespasse and iniquitie thou may well bee ashamed and thinke it hard to make request for others seeing thy selfe is most vnworthy and vngodly Thirdly The difficultie of this exercise evidently appeareth in regard the supplicant must of necessitie bee adorned with many other graces which must concurre to make thy prayer effectuall these Thou must haue patience were mentioned in the fist chapter praeceeding namely knowledge faith pietie charitie sobrietie fervencie sinceritie humility oportunitie constancie Good GOD how hard matter is it with so many gifts to bee endued as also to joyne n 2 Pet. 1. 5 other vertues with these rehearsed Giue moreover all diligence for to adde to the â—est of these properties true patience for thou hast great neede thereof that o Heb. 10. 38 after thou hast done the will of GOD thou may receaue the promise Behold p Iam 5. 7. 8 the husbandman waiteth for the pretious fruite of the earth and hath long patience for it vntill he receaue the former and latter raine so bee thou patient in prayer and settle thine heart for the comming of the LORD draweth neere who will heare thy request and grant vnto thee thy petition Furthermore thou must take diligent heede that thou at this action Thou must haue godlie anger flatter q Deut. 29. 19 not thy selfe in thine owne heart but thou must be very angry at thine owne selfe for thy manifold and filthie sinnes thou must haue this holy r 2 Cor. 7. 11 indignation if thou haue not this godly anger assure thy selfe thou shall not get the LORDS favour Lastly Remember thee that it Thou must vse good attention is a difficile worke to giue good attention in this action to keeps thine Å¿ Prover 4. 23 heart with all diligence that it bee not as t 2 Sam. 14.14 water spilt on the ground which can not bee gathered vp againe And as the lame man creeple from his mothers wombe gaue u Act. 3 5 heede and diligent attention to the Apostles Peter and Iohn when hee gotte health so doe thou in time of prayer that thou mayest