Gods Three Arrows, Section 43
§. 43. Of the power of faithfull prayer.
I. *§. 42. Dignior ſequetur effectus, quem ſerventior praecedit affectus. Aug. Probae Epiſt 121. Impetravit efficaciter quod petijt, quia fideliter poſtulavit. Cypr, Serm. 6 de Orat. Dom.FAithfull prayer is powerfull. By faithfull prayer I meane,
1. The prayer of a faithfull man, ſuch an one as Moſes was, Numb. 12. 7. St. Iames ſtileth ſuch an one a righteous man, and ſaith of his prayer, that it availeth much, Iames 5. 16.
2. The prayer of ſuch a man made in faith. For ſo was this prayer of Moſes. The holding up of his hand implied the ſteddineſſe of his faith: and St. Iames giveth this title to effectuall prayer, Prayer of faith, Iam. 5. 15. Much in Scripture is ſpoken of the dSee The whole Armour of God, on Eph. 6. 18. Treat. 3. Part. 1 §. 22, &c.power of prayer; and all is ſpoken of ſuch prayer as is here meant. The ſacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight, Prov. 15. 8. The upright uſe to pray in faith: the wicked cannot do ſo. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent ſacrifice (Heb. 11. 14.) then Cain. Many and admirable are the things which the Saints in all ages have done by faith, Hebr. 11. But where faith hath failed, the divine power hath been ſtinted, Mat. 13. 58. & 17. 20. Heb. 3. 19. Not without cauſe therefore doth the Lord put in this proviſo of faith, where he ſpeaketh of prevailing by prayer, Mar. 11. 24. What things ſoever ye deſire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye ſhall have them. So his Apoſtle, Iam. 1. 5, 6. If any man lacke, let him ask of God, but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. The faith of thoſe who ſought and found helpe of Chriſt in the dayes of his fleſh, giveth good proofe hereof. Mat. 8. 13. & 9. 2, 22. & 15. 28. Mar. 9. 23. Luk. 7. 50. It is recorded of the Chriſtians Niceph Caliſt. Eccleſiaſt. Hiſt. lib 4. cap. 12. citat hanc hiſtoriam ex Apologiâ quae à Tertulliano edita eſt pro fide ad Senatum. Rom. Vide Oroſ. lib. 7. cap. 15.in the Primitive times of the Church that When Marcus Antoninus waged warre against the Germans, his army was brought to a deſperate caſe, thorow great and long thirst: and that the legion of Christian ſouldiers fell on their knees after their accustomed manner, praying and craving helpe of God; and that that thing, as a new and unaccuſtomed matter, ſtrucke a great terrour into the enemies. And that, while the Chriſtians prayed, another greater matter fell out beyond their imagination and expectation. For, the enemies were ſtricken downe with many ſtroaks of thunder: and the army being even ready to periſh with thirst and want of water, was refreſhed. So effectuall ſurely were the prayers of Chriſtians. Prophane Historians, who have written of the Romane Emperours, have related as much. I have the rather tranſcribed this hiſtory, becauſe it is ſomwhat pertinent to the pattern of Moſes here noted in the text.
Faithfull prayer is that meanes which God himſelfe, the almighty and all ſufficient God, the originall fountaine of all Faith the meanes to receive all bleſſing from God Nemo or at niſi quod credit & ſperat. Bern. ſuper Miſſus eſt, Serm 4.bleſſing-hath ſanctified for receiving from him whatſoever he in his wiſdome ſeeth meet to be done for, or given to any of his children. So that, it is as a conduit pipe, conveying all needfull bleſſing from that high fountaine in heaven, to us on earth. In this reſpect, to him, who ſaid unto the Lord, If thou canst do any thing helpe us, Chriſt gave this anſwer, If thou canſt believe, all things are poſſible to him that believeth, Mar. 9. 22, 23. On the other ſide, when he was among them that believed not, He could do there no mighty worke, Mar. 6. 5.
Ob. This tying of divine bleſſing to faith, which is a gift and grace in man, ſeemeth to impeach the infinite and unlimited power of God.
Anſw. Nothing leſſe. For, faith is not the proper, primary, Mans faith impeacheth not Gods power.and principall cauſe of any divine bleſſing, but onelyonly a meanes ſubordinate to the divine providence. It doth therfore no more impeach Gods power, then any other meanes. There are among others, three eſpeciall conſiderations which evidently demonſtrate that faith more manifeſteth then empaireth the power, providence, wiſdome, and other attributes of God. They are theſe.
1. God himſelfe worketh in man this gift of faith. Eph. 2. 8.Faith is the gift of God.
2. God himſelfe hath appointed and ſanctified this means. No creature hath impoſed it on him.
3. The bleſſing which by faith commeth to any, is obtained, not by any worth or vertue of faith as it is an act of man, but meerly by reaſon of that order which in wiſdome God hath appointed for receiving from him ſuch and ſuch bleſſings.
Good cauſe we have therefore, all of us that are faithfull, in all things wherein we ſtand in need of any ſpeciall favour, ſuccour, and bleſſing from the Lord, to hold up our hands to God, as Moſes here did, by faithfull prayer to ſeek it of him, & expect it from him. For, aſſuredly the prayer which ſhalbe Quae fidelis & fervens oratio ſuerit, caelum ſine dubio penetrabit: unde certum eſt quod vacua redire non poterit. Bern. in Quadrageſſ, Serm 4faithfull and fervent, will pierce heaven: from whence, it is certain, it can not returne empty. Wherefore, when ſpirituall enemies aſſault us: when we find any effects of Gods diſpleaſure lying on us: when we enterprize any weighty buſines: when we obſerve great need, and find want of any grace: when enemies invade us: when a plague enters among us: when a famine begins to pinch: yea when we have juſt cauſe to feare any of theſe: when an army by land, or a fleet by ſea is ſent forth for our owne defence, or for ſuccour to our friends or allies: for obtaining or re-gaining any publique, or private bleſſings, temporall, or ſpirituall, on our ſelves or others: for preventing or removing like evils: on all occaſions let us hold up our hands: let us make faithfull and fervent prayers to God.
Of praying we ſpake *§. 27.before.
The manner of praying with a ſtedfaſt faith (ſignified by holding up the hand) is the point here to be eſpecially obſerved. For, faith to prayer is as fire to powder. In it the life, vigour, and power of prayer conſiſteth. By faith prayer flieth The power of prayer conſiſteth in faith. Grandis fidei clamor; Amb. Comment. in Pſal. 118. Ser. 19. ver. 1.up to heaven, as Daniels did, Dan. 10. 12. By faith it is made acceptable to God, as Abels was, Hebr. 11. 4. By faith it prevailes with God, as Iacobs did, Hoſ. 12. 4. By faith it turnes away Gods wrath, as Moſes did, Exo. 32. 14. By faith it obtaines ſufficient grace, as Pauls did, 2 Cor. 12. 9. Faith added to prayer maketh it powerfull in all things, and profitable to all things. Pray therefore, and pray in faith. Thus hold up thy hand.
For helpe herein, obſerve theſe directions.
1. Take good notice of Gods promiſes, and well acquaint thy ſelfe therewith. Gods promiſes are the only, true, proper Directions to pray in faith. Of Gods promiſes, how they are the ground of faith, See The whole Armour of God, on Eph. 6. 16. Treat. 2. Part. 6, §. 71, &c.ground of faith. What is promiſed, may, and muſt be believed. What is believed without a promiſe, is not juſtly and duly believed. It is rather raſhly and audaciouſly preſumed.
2. Meditate on Gods properties, ſuch as theſe. 1. His ſupreme Soveraignty, wherby he hath an abſolute command over all. 2. His Omnipotency, whereby he is able to do any thing. 3. His All-ſufficiency, whereby, as he hath all treaſures in himſelfe, ſo he can give what he will to whom he will. 4. His Omni-preſence, or being every where, whereby he taketh notice of all things. 5. His unſearchable wiſdome, whereby he diſpoſeth all things to the beſt. 6. His Free-grace, wherby he is moved for his own ſake to do good to ſuch as are unworthy in themſelves. 7. His Rich-mercy, whereby his bowels are ſtirred at the miſeries of his children, and moved to ſuccour them. 8. His Truth, and faithfulneſſe, which makes him perform all his promiſes. 9. His perfect Iuſtice, which makes him judge and revenge thoſe that unjuſtly wrong and vexe his Church. 10. His fierce Wrath and terrour, which makes him a conſuming fire to his enemies. 11. His Immutability, which ſhewes him to be ſuch a God ſtill to us, as of old he was to his Church.
3. Fixe the eye of thy faith on Ieſus Chriſt thy Mediator, ſitting at Gods right hand, and making interceſſion for thee: by vertue of which interceſſion thy perſon and prayers are made acceptable to God, ſo as, in much confidence and ſtedfaſtneſſe of faith thou maiſt expect a gracious acceptance.
4. Call to mind Gods former works. How theſe are of uſe to ſtrengthen faith hath beene ſhewed *§. 33.before.
5. Wait and expect Gods leiſure. Praeſcribe no time to him. iHab. 2. 3. See The whole armour of God, on Eph. 6. 17. Treat 2. Part. 7 §. 3, 8, 9.There is an appointed time. This can not be prevented, nor ſhalbe overſlipt. To be perſwaded hereof, and anſwerably to wait patiently and contentedly, when at firſt we are not heard, will much ſettle and ſtrengthen faith. Hope, like a good daughter, nouriſheth faith.
6. Let thy ſoule be ſo qualified when thou prayeſt, as thy faith be not quailed with the evill diſpoſition of the heart. The right qualification of the ſoule conſiſteth much in the true intent, bent, and inclination thereof, when in truth it intends that which is acceptable to God, and the bent and inclination of the will is thereunto. For, howſoever our good intents, endeavours, and performances are no cauſes of faith, yet, as effects and ſignes they ſo quicken the ſpirit, as they make a man both more ſhew forth, and better uſe his faith then otherwiſe he could. And on the contrary, *See The whole Armour of God, on Eph. 6. 18. Treat. 3 Part. 1. §. 20.ſin damps the ſpirit: and a purpoſe of ſinning is to faith, as water to gun-powder. This he well underſtood, who ſaid, kPſal. 66. 18.If I regard iniquity in mine heart, the Lord will not heare me. Thus therefore he profeſſeth to prepare himſelfe, l—26. 6.I will waſh my hands in innocency, ſo will I compaſſe thine altar, O Lord.
7. When the ſpirit is heavy, and the ſoule perplexed; when doubting and feare ariſeth in thy heart; when that ſweet inward ſenſe, joy, and comfort whereby faith uſeth to be ſupported, faileth in thee; then let thy judgement and underſtanding ſuſtaine thy faith: labour by evident arguments taken from Gods promiſes, and other grounds of faith before mentioned, to convince thy ſoule, that God heareth thy prayer, accepteth thy perſon in Chriſt, and will do that which in his wiſdome he ſeeth to be moſt fit for thee. Reaſon and expoſtulate the caſe with thy ſoule. Say as the Pſalmiſt did in ſuch a caſe, Why art thou cast downe, O my Pſal. 42. 11.ſoule? and why art thou diſquieted in me? Hope thou in God; for I ſhall yet praiſe him, who is the health of my countenance and my God. There are two props to ſupport our faith. One Two props of faith.is an inward comfortable apprehenſion, a ſweet ſenſe and aſſured perſwaſion of Gods fatherly love to us wrought by the ſpirit of comfort. The other is good knowledge and underſtanding of the true grounds of faith, as Gods promiſes, properties, and former dealings with others and our ſelves, the mediation of Chriſt, &c. When the former failes men, by the latter they may ſupport and ſuſtaine themſelves. This latter keepes many which want the former from deſpaire: For it makes them not to dare to diſtruſt.
8. To all other meanes adde prayer. Pray as he that ſaid, mMar 9. 24.Lord I believe: help my unbeliefe. Pray for the ſpirit of ſupplication. For, there is nZac. 12. 10.promiſe made thereof. Pray for faith, which is ſhewed to be the life of that gift. So did the Apoſtles, Lord increaſe our faith, Luke 17. 5. So did Chriſt pray for Peters faith, that it might not faile, Luke 22. 32. In praying for faith, and for ſtedfaſtneſſe thereof, Niſi ſides data eſſet orare non poſſet. Aug. Sixto Epiſt. 105.pray in faith. For, where no faith is, there can be no effectuall prayer.