A Guide to Go to God, Petition 6 · Section 195
§. 195. Of the particulars for which we are to pray by vertue of the firſt part of the laſt Petition.
Q. VVHat are the particulars to be prayed for vnderunder the firſt part of the Sixt Petition?
A. 1. Knowledge of our ſpirituall enemies. Without knowledge of them, there will be no feare of them, no deſire of helpe and ſuccour againſt them, or of freedome from them.Iudg. 18. 28. The people of Laiſh not knowing that the Danites were their enemies, or that they had any purpoſe to ſurprize them, were ſecure, and made no preparations for their owne defence: and ſo were vtterly vanquiſhed. Such ignorance maketh moſt in the world ſo ſecure as they are Experience ſheweth that the more ignorant any are, the more deepely they are implunged into Satans ſnares, and the faſter held thereby. Here therefore we muſt pray for knowledge of the diſtinct kindes of our ſpirituall enemies: of their number, might, malice, ſubtiltie, and ſedulitie. That we may the better know all theſe, the Apoſtle doth largely and diſtinctly deſcribe them, Epheſ. 6. 12.
2. Sight of the danger wherein wee are by reaſon of them. To know that there are enemies, pernicious, and dangerous enemies little moueth them who ſee no danger wherein themſelues are by reaſon of ſuch enemies.2. Kin. 6. 15. When Eliſha's ſeruant ſaw the hoſte of Aram that compaſſed the place where he was, then he cryed out, Alas my Maſter, how ſhall we doe? Thus will they bee affected that are able to diſcerne the danger wherein they are by reaſon of their ſpirituall enemies. They will enquire what to doe. But the danger which is not ſeene, is not feared. Wherefore God ſends Miniſters to people.Act. 26. 18. To open their eyes that they may come from the power of Satan to God.
3. Wiſedome to diſcerne their wiles, their many cunning ſtratagems, and kindes of aſſaults: and to finde out where their ſtrength lyeth: and how they may be withſtood. Thus ſhall we be kept the more ſafely from them, that wee fall not into their temptations,Pſal. 119. 98, 99, 100. and be ouercome by them. Dauid who obtained ſuch wiſedome vndoubtedly prayed for it.
4. Vnderſtanding of our owne weakeneſſe. How vnable we are to ſtand of our ſelues: much more vnable to withſtand ſuch enemies as we hauehave,Epheſ. 6. 12. which are not, as we, fleſh and bloud, but Spirits, Math. 26. 41.yea Principalities and powers, &c. When the Spirit is ready, the fleſh is weake: how much more weake will it be when the ſpirit is ſecure. Such as know not their owne weakeneſſe will be ſo ouer-bold and preſumptuous as they will not feare to caſt themſelues into temptations.
5. Knowledge of the almightie power of God. Thus doth the Apoſtle expreſſely pray in behalfe of the Epheſians, that they may know what is the exceeding greatneſſe of his power towards them that beleeue. Epheſ. 1. 18, 19.Knowledge of the enemies power, and of our owne weakeneſſe cannot but affright vsus, and make vsus faintingly fall into their temptations, vnleſſe withall we know the power of God to bee able to make vsus ſtand, and to ſubdue our enemies, and cleane to free vsus from all their temptations. Knowledge hereof will raiſe vp our hearts to God in all dangers.2. Chro. 14, 11.
6. Reſtraint of Satans power. This the Angell intended when hee ſaid to the Diuell,Iude verſe 9. The Lord rebuke thee. So malicious and audacious is Satan as hee will not ſticke to aſſault the beſt, if the Lord doe not reſtraine him. It is moſt likely that hee could not be ignorant that Chriſt was the Sonne of God, and yet did hee venter to ſet vponupon him.Math. 4. 3. Now when God hath giuen vsus vnderſtanding of his owne power, of our owne weakeneſſe, and of Satans might and malice, then ſhall wee ſee iuſt cauſe to pray to God to rebuke Satan.
7. Aſſiſtance from God: for though Satan be reſtrained, yet cannot wee ſtand of our ſelues, but ſhall fall euen thorow our owne weakeneſſe.Pſal 109. 23, 26. The conſideration of his owne weakeneſſe made the Pſalmiſt ſeeke helpe of God.Rom. 8. 31. For If God be for vsus, who can be againſt vsus? Great reaſon there is therefore to ſeeke aſſiſtance of God.
8. Confidence and courage in God. This is it which the Apoſtle intendeth,Epheſ. 6. 10. where he exhorteth to be ſtrong in the Lord. For nene of them that truſt in God ſhall be deſolate. Pſal. 34. 22.—18. 30.He is their buckler. Hee ſaueth them. It is therefore moſt requiſite to pray for affiance in him.
9. Sufficient grace to beare out aſſaults when wee are tempted. For ſometimes it is needfull for vsus to be tempted. Then our requeſt ought to bee that that which is needfull may proue vſefull and profitable:2. Cor. 12. 9. which cannot be without Gods grace. This therefore God gaue in the time of temptation to his Apoſtle:Primus hoſtis caro eſt aduerſus ſpiritum concupiſcens. Hoſtem hunc crudeliſſimum nec fugere poſſumus nec fugare: circum…erre illam neceſſe eſt, quoniam alligatus eſt nobis. Nam quod eſt m…ſerabilius, hoſtem noſtrum ipſi cogimur ſuſtentare, perimere eum non licet. Bern. de Euang. 7. Pan. Ser. 3. teaching vsus thereby in the like caſe to pray for the like grace.
10. Power ouer the fleſh. The fleſh is a ſecret inward tempter, whereby Satan gets great aduantage. It continually lúſteth, and fighteth againſt the Spirit. If it preuaile we are gone. Now in that this fleſh is euer in vsus ſo long as we retaine fleſh vponupon vsus, who hath not cauſe to pray, and cry as the Apoſtle did, O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliuer mee from the body of this death! Rom. 7. 24. We can neither fly from, nor put to flight this cruell enemy. Wee cannot but carry it about with vsus, becauſe it is bound to vsus. And which is more miſerable, wee are forced to nouriſh this enemy: deſtroy it we cannot.
11. Contempt of the world. The world is another tempter, which hath ſundry baits of pleaſures, profits, and promotions to allure vsus vntounto it: and thorow fiue gates, the fiue ſences, it woundeth vsus.Praeſens ſeculum per quinque portus, quin que , viz. corporis ſenſus …aculis ſuis vulnerat …e. Et …ors intrat per ſeneſtras meas. Ibid. If they be opened, and our hearts attentiue to the allurements thereof, wee are in great danger to bee ouer-taken therewith: death may enter by thoſe windowes. So as there is great need we ſhould pray as the Pſalmiſt did, Incline not my heart to couetouſneſſe. Turne away mine eyes from beholding vanity. Pſal 119 36, 37.
12. Patience vnderunder all croſſes. Croſſes are a kinde of tryall and temptation. By impatiency wee are brought to faint and ſinke vnderunder them which is to be ouercome. This is it which Sathan watcheth for. For ſo ſoone as hee obſerueth any to faint and fall, hee preſently ſeazeth vponupon them. Not without cauſe therefore did the Apoſtle Pray for the Coloſſians that they might bee ſtrengthened with all might vntounto all patience. Col. 1. 11.VnderUnder this head are compriſed Hope, Comfort, Ioy and Glory in afflictions: all to bee prayed for:Act. 4. 29. and withall an inuincible courage againſt perſecution for the Name of Chriſt.
13. Moderation of all afflictions. Though we hauehave ſome patience, yet if afflictions increaſe, they may ſo try our patience, as to bring it to naught. For they which hauehave the greateſt meaſure hauehave but their meaſure: and afflictions by continuance and increaſe may exceed that meaſure:Ier. 10 24. foreign which the Prophet well knew when he thus prayed, O Lord correct me, but with iudgement. By iudgement is not there meant vengeance and indignation (for it is oppoſed to wrath.)In modo Caſtiga me Iehoua, veruntamen modicè. Tremel. & Iun. But wiſedome, diſcretion and moderation. Hereby we are kept both from fainting when we are chaſtened: and alſo from murmuring againſt the rod.
14. Preſeruation from a reprobate ſence. For if we be once giuen vp thereto, then hath Satan faſt hold of vsus. God hath vtterly forſaken ſuch. EueryEvery temptation is to them as a ſnare to hold them faſt, and as an hooke to pull them downe to deſtruction. Moſt fitly may that which the Apoſtle ſaith of them that will be rich, be applyed to ſuch as are of a reprobate ſence,1. Tim. 6. 9. They fall into temptation and a ſnare, and into many fooliſh and hurtfull luſts, which drowne men in perdition and deſtruction. For men of a reprobate ſence are ſuch, as, being depriued of all iudgement and conſcience, runne headlong into ſuch euils as are againſt the inſtinct of nature. Becauſe blindneſſe of mind, hardneſſe of heart, deadneſſe of conſcience, peruerſneſſe of affection, pride, preſumption, ſelfe-conceitedneſſe, idleneſſe, careleſneſſe, ſecuritie and ſuch like vices are fore-runners vntounto a reprobate ſence, wee ought alſo earneſtly to pray againſt them all.