A Guide to Go to God, Petition 6 · Section 196 – Section 199
§. 196. Of the particulars for which we are to pry by vertue of the ſecond part of the laſt Petition.
Q. VVHat are the particulars to be prayed for vnderunder the ſecond part of the Sixt Petition,
A. 1. Recouerie from ſinne being fallen into it. Pſal. 51. 10.This is one maine point deſired in Dauids penitentiary Pſalme, eſpecially in this phraſe, Renew a right ſpirit within mee. Repentance is that grace whereby ſuch as are fallen recouer themſelues, as is euident by this aduice which Chriſt giueth, Remember from whence thou art fallen, Reu. 2. 5.and repent. Repentance therefore is heere to be prayed for. Satan is as much diſappointed by repenting of ſinne, as by not yeelding to ſinne.
2. Diſpoſſeſſion of Satan. Satan is that Euill one that hath his finger in eueryevery euill thing. So long as hee abideth any where, freedome from euill cannot he expected. If hee therefore hauehave really entered into any,Mat. 15. 22. as he did into the woman of Canaans daughter, we muſt pray, as ſhe did, to hauehave him diſpoſſeſt. For by prayer and faſting he may be caſt out. Mar. 9. 29.If otherwiſe hee ſeaze on vsus by putting into vsus euill thoughts, or ſtirring vp corrupt humours, or ſetting before vsus euill obiects, or affrighting vsus, or vexing vsus any way in ſoule or body, we are taught to pray for deliuerance from him.
3. Alienation of heart from the world. They who hauehave beene bewitched by the world, ſo as they hauehave loued the ſame, and hauehave beene entangled therein, which is a great euill, ought to pray to bee pulled out of it: and to hauehave their hearts turned from it, as the heart of Amnon was from Tamar: ſo that the hatred wherewith they hate it,2 Sam. 13. 15. may bee greater then the louelove wherewith they loued it. This wee ought to pray for in regard of lewd company, vnlawfull games, vndue honours, vniuſt gaine, immoderate pleaſures, or any other like thing wherewith wee hauehave beene bewitched. Till our hearts bee alienated from the world, we ſhall neuer bee throughly deliuered from the euill of the world.
4. Suppreſſion of all the luſts of the fleſh, after they are riſen vp. Preuention of them is implied in the former part of this Petition. If that be not obtained but that the fleſh doth riſe vp & luſt and rebell againſt the Spirit, our deſire ought to bee, to hauehave thoſe luſts beaten downe againe, and we freed from the thraldome of them. Saint Paul reckons vp 17. particular luſts of the fleſh together.Gal. 5. 19, 20, 21. Thoſe and other like to thoſe are all ſimply euill, ſuch euills as if they be not beaten downe and we deliuered from the bondage of them, will bring vsus to eternall death.
5. Remouall of iudgements. Such afflictions as come from the wrath of God, and ſo long as they lie vponupon vsus, manifeſt his indignation againſt vsus, are as euills to be prayed againſt. In which reſpect thus prayeth the Church, Turne vsus againe, O God: and cauſe thy face to ſhine. Pſal. 80. 3, 4.O Lord God of Hoſt▪ how long wilt thou be angry? Such a iudgement was that Plague for the remouall whereof Dauid built an Altar,2 Sam. 24. 25. and offered Sacrifice. Among theſe, ſpirituall iudgements are moſt earneſtly to be prayed againſt: ſuch as were mentioned in the end of the laſt §. If the preuention of them be to be prayed ſon much more deliuerance from them. For they are doubly euill. 1. As they are ſinnes. 2 As they are puniſhments of ſins, and effects of Gods wrath. To this head may be alſo referred all manner of croſſes, asaPſal. 46. 9. war, bIoel. 2. 19.famine,c2 Sam. 24. 25. plague,dPro. 30. 8. pouerty,eDan. 9. 17. captiuity,fAct. 12. 5. impriſonment,gPſal. 119. 22. reproach, h2 King. 20. 3.ſickneſſe,iPſal 38. 1, &c. paine and ſuch like afflictions for remouall whereof we may pray, as was ſhewed*§. 124. before.
6. A bleſſed departure out of this world. So long as wee are in this world we are ſubiect to many euills, which lie and preſſe ſore vponupon vsus. But by death we are deliuered from them all: at leſt if our death be in the Lord. For they only are bleſſed that die in the Lord. They which die not in the Lord, are not deliuered from euill: but like the fiſh which leapeth out of warme water into flaming fier,Reu. 14. 13. go from the leſſe euill into the greater by many degrees.
Q. May a man then pray for death?
A. Not ſimply and abſolutely, with deſire to hauehave the time appointed by God, preuented, but with ſubmiſſion to the good pleaſure of God. Concerning our departure out of this world two things are here intended. 1. That we be willing no depart. 2. That our departure be in the Lord. Both theſe are manifeſted in old Simeons ſwanlike-ſong: where hee ſheweth his willingneſſe to depart, Luke 2. 29.and his deſire to depart in peace. So much alſo is euident in Saint Pauls deſire.Phil. 1. 23. I hauehave (ſaith he) a deſire to depart. This was not an abſolute prayer for death. It was a manifeſtation rather of what he could willingly hauehave wiſhed,Votum affectus, non effectus. in his owne behalfe, then of what he peremptorily or abſolutely would deſire. Now where hee addeth, and to bee with Chriſt, hee ſheweth what kinde of death hee deſired. And this we muſt abſolutely deſire, that when we dye, we may dye the death of the righteous, an happy death: which is a finall deliuery from all the euill whereunto in this world wee are ſubiect.
7. Reſurrection of the body. For death in it ſelfe is an euill, holding the body in the graue as in a priſon where it rotteth and conſumeth. The reſurrection of the body is it that maketh a mans diſſolution to be a bleſſing. Thus is his body by death as ſeede ſowne in the ground which bringeth forth an harueſt. This Chriſt hath promiſed:Ioh. 5. 28. this therefore wee may and muſt pray for.
8. Abſolution at the day of iudgement. When our bodies are raiſed, they together with our ſoules ſhall be preſented before Chriſts tribunall ſeate. There to bee condemned for our ſinnes, is a farre greater euill then any that in this world can befall vsus. And better it were that our bodies ſhould neuer be raiſed, then bee raiſed to condemnation. Oft therefore doth the Apoſtle pray for the Saints that they may be kept blameleſſe vntounto the comming of Chriſt.1 Theſ. 3. 13.—5. 23.
9. Aeternall glory in heauen. They who are aduanced thereunto are fully deliuered from all euill, and from all feare of all euill.Reu. 21. 4. In which reſpect it is ſaid that God ſhall wipe away all teares from their eyes: that is, hee ſhall take away all occaſions of mourning: therefore by way of explication it is added, There ſhall be no more death, neither ſorrow, nor crying, &c. This was it that the penitentiary thiefe prayed for in theſe words, Lord remember me when thou commeſt into thy Kingdome. Luk. 23. 42.Thus we ſee how this prayer directeth vsus to pray for al things that are needfull for vsus, from that corruptible bread whereby our mortall bodies are nouriſhed, to that glory of ſoule and body which endureth for euer.Quando dicimu… libera nos à malo, nihil remanet quod vl…ra adhuc debeat poſtulari. Cypr. de Orat. Dom. §. 19. For when we ſay, Deliuer vsus from euill, there remaineth nothing that further we may aske.
§. 197. Of the things for which we ought to giuegive thankes in the laſt Petition.
Q. VVHat are the things for which thanks is to be giuen by virtue of the laſt Petition?
A. 1. EueryEvery ſanctifying Grace.
2. Freedome from the power of darkneſſe.
For both theſe we hauehave the expreſſe patterne of the Apoſtle:1 Cor. 1. 4. In regard of the former hee ſaith I thanke my God for the grace of God. —5.VnderUnder this indefinite word Grace, he compriſeth eueryevery particular ſanctifying grace. Wherefore hee addeth, In eueryevery thing (that is in eueryevery grace) ye are euriched. —7.And yee are not deſtitute of any gift. Col. 1, 12, 13.In regard of the latter he alſo ſaith, I giuegive thankes to the Father, who hath deliuered vsus from the power of darkneſſe. We heard*§. 169. before that San…lification was the Summe of this Petition. But particular ſanctifying graces (whereof nine are reckoned vp together, Gal. 5. 22, 23.) are the parts and members which make vp that Summe. Of theſe therefore wee muſt take notice, and for theſe wee muſt giuegive thankes. Now becauſe that Summe is implyed vnderunder the negatiue, we are anſwerably to giuegive thankes for freedome from the contrary, which the Apoſtle ſtileth power of darkneſſe. VnderUnder darkneſſe he compriſeth ſin, death, diuell, and damnation. While wee are vnderunder the power of theſe, we are their vaſſalls. It is therefore a bleſſing worthy of all praiſe to be freed from them.
Other particulars ſeuerally concerne the diſtinct parts of this Petition.
§. 198. Of the particulars for which thankes is to bee giuen by virtue of the firſt part of the laſt Petition.
Q. VVHat are the particulars for which the firſt part of the ſixt Petition requireth thankes to bee giuen.
A. 1. VnderUnder ſtanding of the law, whereby we know what ſin is, when we are tempted thereto, how fearefull a thing it is to yeeld to ſuch temptations, how wretched their caſe is that are left to the power of temptation.Rom. 3. 20. By the Law is the knowledge of ſinne. That therefore which giueth vsus notice of ſo great danger, is a thing praiſe-worthy: eſpecially if we hauehave vnderſtanding thereof.Pſal. 119. 99, 100 In way of thankfulneſſe doth Dauid oft acknowledge this.
2. Wiſedome to diſcerne our enemies and their aſſaults. This proceedeth from the former, and goeth a degree farther; and in that reſpect it bindeth vsus to more thankfulneſſe. With thankfulneſſe ſaith the Pſalmiſt to God,Pſal. 119. 98. Thou thorew thy commandements haſt made me wiſer then mine enemies.
3. The victory which Chriſt hath go…ten ouer ſpirituall enemies. It is in praiſe of Chriſt that the Pſalmiſt ſaith to him, Thou haſt led captituity captiue. Pſal. 68. 18.By captiuity hee meaneth the world, the fleſh, ſinne, death, the diuell and all other enemies of our ſoule. Were not theſe by Chriſt made captiues, and ſo chained, reſtrained and kept in, we could not ſtand againſt them, they would ſoone leade vsus captiues. For our ſakes did Chriſt enter combate with them, and get victory ouer them. We reape the benefit thereof: wee therefore muſt giuegive the thankes to Chriſt, and ſay (as the heauenly Spirits doe) we giuegive thee thankes becauſe thou haſt taken to thee thy great power, Reu. 11. 17, 18.and haſt raigned: and deſtroyed them that deſtroy the earth.
4. Strength to withſtand our enemies. As Chriſt himſelfe hath ouercome them, ſo by his ſpirit hee giueth vsus power to ouercome,2 Tim. 1. 7. in which reſpect it is ſaid, Hee hath giuen to vsus the Spirit of power. On which ground ſaith the Apoſtle, I thanke him who hath enabled me.1 Tim. 1. 12.
5. Reſolution to yeeld to no allurements whether they come from the fleſh or the world. Gratias deo, qui iam harum rerum in vobis glori… tranſitoriae glorioſum eſt operatus contemptum. Bern. Epiſt. 23.A true, ſetled reſolution is a great meanes to keepe vsus ſafe. This comes from God. For by nature our diſpoſition is wholy inclined to the world and to the fleſh. Wherefore asa1. Sa. 25. 32, 33 Dauid bleſſed God for aſſwaging his paſſion, and keeping him from ſhedding blood, ſo wee muſt praiſe God (whenſoeuer our minde is alienated from the world and fleſh) for that alteration of our diſpoſition.
6. Patience to beare out all brunts. Afflictions to our weake fleſh are ſoare temptations: but by patience wee are kept from being ſwallowed vp by them. In which reſpect the Apoſtle ſaw great cauſe to thanke God for the patience of the Theſſalonians.2 Theſ. 1. 3, 4.
7. Power in all conflicts to ouercome. Such, though they bee led vntounto temptation, are not led into temptation. It is expreſſely noted of them that had gotten victory, that they ſang a ſong of praiſe.Reu. 15. 2, 3.
§. 199. Of the particulars for which thankes is to be giuen by virtue of the laſt part of the laſt Petition.
Q. VVHat are the things for which the ſecond part of the laſt Petition requireth thankes?
A. 1. Repentance after ſinne committed. This is a ſure euidence of deliuerance from a great euill. Therefore the Church glorified God becauſe hee had granted repentance.Act. 11. 18.
2. Reſcue out of Satans clutches. If Satan hauehave at any time got any aduantage againſt vsus, as he getteth great aduantage againſt witches and ſorcerers, yea and againſt other impudent, and audacious ſinners whom he hath faſt in his clutches, to bee reſcued and recouered out of his hands affordeth iuſt cauſe of much thankes:Luk. 8. 2, 3. which Mary Magdalene, out of whom went ſe…en diuels, well knew to be moſt due, and therefore in teſtimony of thankfulneſſe ſhee followed Chriſt and miniſtred to him of her ſubſtance.
3. Recouery out of the world. Gal. 1. 4, 5.The Apoſtle aſcribeth glory to Chriſt for deliuering vsus from this preſent euill world.
4. Conqueſt of the Spirit ouer the fleſh. For by the Spirits conqueſt,Rom. 7. 25. are we freed from the dominion of the fleſh. For this therefore the Apoſtle giueth expreſſe thankes.
5. Remouall of iudgements. Iudgements and all manner of croſſes are in their kinde euills: and remouall of them is a deliuerance from thoſe euills: Whereupon the Saints hauehave beene thankfull for ſuch deliuerances.Exod 15. 1, &c. The Iſraelites giuegive thankes to God for freeing them from the Egyptian bondage:1. Chro. 21. 28. And Dauid for cauſing the Plague to ceaſe: And Hezekiah for taking away a deadly diſeaſe;Iſa. 38. 9. &c. And the Church for returning her captiuity.Pſal. 126. 1, 2.
6. Victory ouer death. Death in it ſelfe is a dreadfull euill: the very e…trance into damnation. But by Chriſt the ſting of it is pulled out, the nature of it is altered. It is made a gate into eternall glory.1. Cor. 15. 57. This is that victory for which Saint Paul giueth thankes.
7. Hope of reſurrection to life.
8. Hope of eternall glory. Theſe are full and ſmall deliuerances from all euill. Gods promiſe of theſe to ſuch as beleeue, is as a performance of them. Our hope therefore reſting on Gods promiſe for theſe affordeth iuſt occaſion of reioycing and praiſing GOD,1. Pet. 1. 3, 4. as Saint Peter doth, and Saint Paul alſo.Col. 1. 12.