Joy in Tribulation, Chapter 14 – Chapter 15
CHAP. XIV. An Answer to some further objections.
BUt some weake dejected Christian will bee ready to reply; All things indeed are possible to him that beleeveth, but, alas, I have no faith to pray. True it is, that prayer is but the speech of faith, And how can they call upon him in whom they beleeve not. Faith (saith that excellent Father) gives life to prayer, and praier gets strength for faith.Aug. de verb. com… ser. 36.
For answer, let an humble soule well consider how a man, with griefe, should sensibly feele want of faith, if he had not some faith to give him sense and feeling? How should spiritual sense be without life, or spirituall life without faith. As he in the Gospel first found his sight in the defect of it, (that hee saw men like trees,) So might weake Christians easily discerne some measure of true faith, even in this griefe, and complaints for want of faith.
Againe, we shall easily perceive, in these Complainers, much detestation of sinne, not onelyonly in others, but especially in themselves, and passionat desires to glorifie God in all faithfull service. And from what root can these fruits arise, but from that faith which purifieth the heart.
Some others complaine, I know well that fervent prayer prevaileth much; but I have no heat, no life, no fervour of prayer; but in such duties find a wonderfull coldnesse, d…lnesse, and even deadnesse of spirit. But let such know, and continually remember, that these feelings are very common to Gods dearest Saints on earth: I am afflicted verie much, (saith David, Ps. 119.1…7) quicken mee, oh Lord, according to thy Word. Nine severall times doth that holy Prophet call for quickning grace in that onelyonly Psalme; which evidently argueth much sense of spirituall dulnesse and deadnesse.
At such times therefore (because the Word quickneth us)Psa. 119.50 let us shake ou… this heavinesse by some meditations on those grounds of prayer which we finde in the Word.
Now these grounds are either such as are within, or without us: Those within are first some feeling of a grievous defect and want; secondly, some apprehension of good in the things desired. The outward are, first, the ability, secondly, the bounty of those whom wee aske. Now as where in much want there is no feeling of any defect, or if there bee sense, yet no desire of supply, there no man will seeke out for helpe: So, when all these concurre, yet will wee not aske, where either there is wrll, but no power, or much power but no wil to succour us. But when a man findes at home nothing but want and beggery (as wel want of all necessaries, as want of strength in himselfe to procure them) and this want stirreth up hunger, hee will soone leave his owne bare walls, to get reliefe of some rich and bountifull person.
And according to the measure of these grounds will be his diligence in using meanes, and seeking help: where there is much sense of much want, strong desires of supply, certaine knowledge of great ability and bounty in some neere neighbour, there also the putting forth of meanes to procure relief wil be answerable.
Now then let a Christian, wh… desireth to sharpen his voyce in prayer, whe… his heart with serious meditations: 1. Of his desperate wants; want of all necessary grace, want of all power to supply it of himselfe. Consider that thou art poore, Rev. 3. 17.wretched, miserable, blind and naked: no sufficiencie in thee to thinke one good thought. 2 …2. When thou hast taken a good view of thy many and grievous wants, ponder well the necessity of the grace which thou wantest: Remember the profit, the sweetnesse, the excellency of it;Phil. 3.8. 10. that All things are dung and losse in comparison of the excellen… knowledge of Christ, the v…rtue of his resurrection, and comformitie to his death. By this meanes thou wilt finde thy desires to bee kin…led within thee. Then …et before thine eyes that Father of Lights, from whom (as beames from the Sunne) flow out infinite streames of grace and goodnesse toward his creatures: weigh diligently that hee is rich, infinitely rich to all that call upon him: Rom. 10…12gracious, infinitely gracious to those who seeke him in Christ. Men grow poore by much giving: but hee, the more hee gives, the more he may.Mat. 13.1… No end of his store, no end or beginning of his goodnesse: insomuch, that where hee once giveth, there he ever giveth; one grace ever making way for another… and the more thou desirest and askest, the more welcome; and the more excellent the things which thou beggest, the more sure thou a… to receive them. If Salomon aske wisedome, hee shall have it with advantage of other blessings which he asked not: how much more when thou askest holinesse? Oh if thou aske, Give mee thy selfe to be my Father; give me thy Sonne to be my Head and Saviour; give me thy holy Spirit to bee my life and quickner; give me obedience to all; How shouldst thou misse? Thou which art a parent, how willingly canst thou (being thy selfe evill) give good things to thy child, though the more thou givest the lesse thou hast; but if hee aske wisely, things that are truly good, not toyes, and trifles, how art thou delighted in his petitions? how gladly dost thou give him with increase, whatsoever hee intreateth? How much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to those that aske him? Luk. 11.13Remember the example of blind Bartimeu…. Mar. 10.46 &c.Hee feeling the great misse of his eyes, and the discomfort of perpetuall darkenesse, and knowing well that as in himselfe there was no helpe, so in Christ (as being the light of the world) there was both infinit power, and grace, (as denying none that came unto him laden & oppressed) never ceased crying, Iesus thou sonne of David have mercy on me. They discourage and rebuke him that he should hold his peace: what then? Did he sit downe and cease? No, but whetted with the remembrance of his own misery, and Christ his mercy, Cried out so much the more a great deale, Iesus thou sonne of David have mercy upon mee. Remember how earnestly, and uncessantly he sued; remember how he prospered in his suit. Now goe thou, and doe likewise. Sharpen thy desires with serious meditatiō on thy wants: set before thine eies this power and bounty of the Lord, and then intreat, beg, sue, importune his favour, and never give him over, till hee give thee in thy request.Luk. 18.1. Nor let thy spirit faint, but know thou shalt obtaine as sure as God is true. Thou canst not faile, because he cannot be unfaithfull.
CHAP. XV. The application of this comfort by meditation.
NOw then when thou findest thy Spirit cast downe within thee, rowze it up with some such meditation.
How is it (my Soule) how is it, oh thou of little faith, that thus in the day of trouble thou refusest comfort?Psal. 77.2. Hast thou not good leave, yea, a precious liberty, nay, a sweet command from thy gracious Lord,Iam. 5. Is any man afflicted? let him pray. Oh my my Lord, Shall all flesh come unto thee, because thou hearest praier? Psal. 65.2.And shall not I who have had so much experience,Psal. 116. 2 how often thou hast enclined thine eare unto me, shall not I call upon thee as long as I live? Psal. 138.3In the verie day that I cried, thou hast answered mee, and strengthenest mee with the strength of thy right hand in my soule. Can I then want comfort, who have thine eare to heare me, thy compassion to pitty me, thy strong hand to relieve mee?Iam. 5.13. Is there no time untimely in prayer, no season unseasonable, but the time of affliction the very set howre of audience? (Psa. 50. 15.) and shall I not then take hold of this privilege, and use it with cheerfulnesse? Oh my heavenly Father, even I a sinfull wretch wil give any good thing to the childe of my body, when he asketh: But if he desire me to teach him things profitable, his book, his trade, his duty to thee, to my selfe, and others, how joyfully doe I heare him? how gladly doe I instruct him? how willingly reward him? How then shouldest thou (so infinitely good) so (beyond all that I can thinke) gracious & bountifull, deny me thy poore creature begging of thee any thing that is truly good, especially when longing after thee & thy righteousnes, in this barren and thirstie land, my soule panteth and fainteth for thy presence, and for that holy Spirit, w…ereby I call upon thee Abba Father? Oh how shouldst thou not (according to thy Covenant) delight in me to doe me good, and as thou hast promised, rejoyce over me to give me my hearts desire?Zeph. 3.7…
Now then thou, my gracious Father, who art more ready to give thy Spirit,Psal. 1… than wee to aske him, even that Spirit of Prayer and supplication; Thou who hast commanded, Call upon mee in the time of trouble, and hast promised, I will heare thee; Heare now rhe supplication of thy servant, and when thou hearest, be mercifull. Thou who commandest,Psa. 27.8,9 Seeke my face, and hast given thy servant an heart to answer, Lord thy face will I seeke: oh hide not thy face from me, nor cast thy creature away in displeasure: Yea, oh my God, quickē thy servant in the sense of my want and miserie, and in the knowledge of thy powerfull grace and mercy, alwaies to pray, and never to faint: Ps. 138.7,…So, though I walke in the midst of troubles, thou wilt revive me, and perfect that which concerneth me.