A Guide to Go to God, Preface · Section 46 – Section 50
§. 46. Of the ſpirituall bleſsings to be craued for the whole militant Church.
Q. VVHat are the particular good things which by vertue of the ſecond Petition we ought to pray for?
A. All ſuch things as concerne the good of the Church militant, or triumphant.
In our Prayer for the Church militant we ought to hauehave reſpect to the things which concerne the whole body, or the ſeuerall parts thereof, whether they bee more remote, or nearer to vsus, and ſo we more eſpeciall members thereof.
Q. What are wee to pray for in regard of the whole bodie of the Church militant?
A. 1. That God would bleſſe it with all needfull bleſſings both ſpirituall and temporall.
2. That he would protect it from all manner of euill.
VnderUnder the bleſſings craued for the Church the meanes which God hath ſanctified for the better effecting of them are compriſed.
Q. What are the ſpirituall bleſsings which wee ought to deſire for the Church on earth?Spirituall bleſſings for the whole militant Church.
A. 1. In generall that as God hath choſen it to bee as his Vineyard and Orchard, ſo he would take an eſpeciall care of it, hauing his eye continually vponupon it, to plant it, to water it, to fence it, to doe for it whatſoeuer he himſelfe ſeeth requiſite for it. Becauſe we know that God better knoweth, then we doe, what is good for his Chnrch, therefore ought our deſire of the good thereof to be referred to him, & extended to that knowledge which he hath of it. To which purpoſe Dauid thus prayeth, Doe good in thy good pleaſure vntounto Sion.Pſal. 51. 18.
2. In particular we ought to deſire both the dayly encreaſe of Gods Church on earth; and alſo the eſtabliſhment of it.
For the encreaſe of it two eſpeciall things are to bee deſired, and that indefinitely without any limitation to any particular place.
1. That where no Church is,Pray that Churches may be where none are Pſal. 67. 2. God would bee pleaſed to plant one. Such ought the extent of our deſire to be herein, as to pray that Gods ſauing health may be knowne among all Nations. Eſpecially among ſuch as hauehave a particular promiſe made to them,Rom. 11. 25, 26. as the Iewes. Pſal. 67. 4.On this ground when they were a people, and we none, they prayed for vsus.
2. That where any foundation of a Church is laid,Pray that Churches planted may encreaſe. God would cauſe the building anſwerably to bee reared vp. To which purpoſe Dauid in his forenamed prayer addeth this clauſe,Pſal. 51. 18. Build thou the walls of Ieruſalem. This was the maine thing which the Apoſtles aimed at in that powerfull prayer which with one accord they made vntounto God. Acts 4. 24.On this ground we hauehave iuſt cauſe to pray for Virginia, and other like Plantations.
For the eſtabliſhment of the Church, two things alſo are to be deſired.
1. That ſuch Churches as are built vp may bee kept from ruine:Pray for preſeruation of Churches. 1. Theſ. 3. 10, &c. and the people thereof from reuolt. On this ground we ought to pray for the Churches now in Europe.
2. That if any breaches hauehave beene made, they may bee repaired, and ſuch people as hauehave reuolted bee reſtored.Pray for recouerie of Churches. On this ground wee ought to pray as for thoſe Churches of Greece, which were planted by the Apoſtles, ſo for all thoſe Churches which hauing receiued the light of the Goſpell,Dan. 9. 16. hauehave returned … Popery.Pſal. 80. 14.
Q. Which are the meanes that wee ought to pray for, as ſanctified of God for obtaining the forenamed bleſſings.
A. They are of two ſorts.
1. Outward; Outward meanes of the Churches goodthe ſacred ordinances of God.
2. Inward; the ſanctifying operation of Gods holy Spirit.
Of outward meanes there are three eſpeciall kinds.
1. The chiefeſt and moſt abſolutely neceſſarie is the Miniſterie of Gods Word.
2. The next to that is the administration of the Sacraments.
3. The laſt, which is alſo of very good vſe, is Eccleſiaſticall gouernment.
By the Miniſterie of the Word both ſuch as are out of the Church are gathered into it:1. The word. Pſal. 45 6.—110. 2. and they alſo that are in it, are further built vp in all needfull graces. That is Chriſts Scepter whereby he gouerneth his Church:Mat. 13. 19. and wherein his ſtatutes, and ordinances,Pſal. 147. 19. and all the priuiledges of the Church are contained.
By adminiſtration of the Sacraments that grace which is wrought by the Word,2. Sacraments. is confirmed, and eſtablished. Theſe are Chriſts ſeales to ratifie his Couenant,Rom. 4. 11. and all his promiſes made vntounto his Church.
By the Eccleſiaſticall gouernment well ordered many ſcandals and ſtumbling blockes are remoued,3. Gouernment. or auoided. Such as are free-hearted and forward are encouraged; ſuch as are backward and ſlothfull, are pricked on; ſuch as are vnruly, and refractarie are bridled, and kept in compaſſe.
Q. What are we to pray for in regard of the ordinances of God?Pray for free vſe of Gods ordinances.
A. That they may bee freely and purely exerciſed. Pray (ſaith the Apoſtle) that the word of the Lord may RVNNE; (that is hauehave a free and a ſpeedie paſſage) and be glorified, 2. Theſ. 3. 1. foreignthat is, be purely and powerfully preached. That which hee applyeth to the Word, may alſo be extended to other holy ordinances of God; which that they may be freely and purely exerciſed,Pray for Miniſters. we are to pray both for Ministers, & alſo for Magiſtrates. For Miniſters eſpecially,Mat. 9. 38. that the Lord would ſend forth labourers into his harueſt: Epheſ. 6. 19.and giuegive them vtterance, that they may open their mouth boldly to make known the myſterie of the Goſpel: ſo as Abilitie, Libertie, and Integritie, are to be prayed for in the behalfe of Miniſters. Of all other functions none more needful, none more vſefull for the Church: none can leſſe be ſpared then Miniſters. Wherefore more inſtant Prayer is to be made for them.Pray for Magiſtrates. Magiſtrates alſo,Pſal. 49. 23. foreign who are promiſed to be giuen as nouriſhers & nurſes of the Church, may by their good gouernment procure much good to the Church, as Mordecai did. Wee ought therefore to pray for them:Eſt. 10. 3. that God would raiſe vp men of worth, that may feede his people according to the integritie of their heart, and guide them by the skilfulneſſe of their hands, Pſal 78. 72.as Dauid did. Where there are none to beare rule,Iudg. 21. 25. eueryevery man doth that which is good in his owne eyes: whence muſt needs follow much confuſion. And where there are euill Magiſtrates, people are oft drawne to follow their euill courſes: witneſſe this ſtile giuen to the firſt King of Iſrael, Ieroboam which made Iſrael to ſinne. 2 King. 10. 31.If they will not follow their euill courſes, they ſhall bee ſure to be oppreſſed. For when the wicked beareth rule, Pro. 29. 2.the people mourne.
Q. What ought wee to pray for in regard of the ſanctifying operation of Gods Spirit?
A. That it may alwaies accompany all the outward meanes ordained of God for the good of his Church.Pray for the power of the Spirit. For neither is he that planteth any thing: nor hee that watereth: but God that giueth the encreaſe: which hee giueth by the worke of his Spirit.1. Cor. 3. 7. The Spirit giueth life. The Apoſtle therefore prayeth for them that had heard the Word of Truth, 2. Cor. 3. 6.that God would giuegive them the Spirit of wiſedome and reuelation. Epheſ. 1. 13, 17.By the operation of Gods Spirit are all Gods ordinances made powerfull and effectuall.
§. 47. Of praying for the outward temporall eſtate of the Church.
Q. VVHat are we to pray for in regard of the temporall eſtate of the Church?
A. All needfull peace and proſperitie.Pſal. 122. 7, 7. Though all temporall bleſſings be compriſed in the fourth Petition; yet ſo farre forth as they tend to the good of the Church, being a meanes that the Goſpell may be preached, and the Sacraments adminiſtred more freely, that people may bee more incouraged to come into the Church, and to abide in the Church, that Eccleſiaſticall gouernment may be the better exerciſed, they belong to this Petition. Yet becauſe the Church like a Palme-tree doth oft better grow, at leaſt in purity, when it is preſſed with aduerſitie, we are in our deſire of the outward peace and proſperitie of the Church to ſubmit our deſire to the wiſedome of God, and no further to deſire it, then God ſeeth it to be needfull, and vſefull for the Church.
§. 48. Of the extent of our Prayer for the good of the Church after our time.
Q. HOw farre ought our deſire for the good of the Church to extend?
A. To preſent, and to ſucceeding times, that the Church of God may proſper, flouriſh and increaſe both in our dayes, and alſo in the dayes of our poſteritie from time to time, till the day of perfect conſummation, which is the day of the glorious appearing of Ieſus Chriſt. For this end wee are to pray for Seminaries of Miniſters,Pray for Seminaries. Magiſtrates and Chriſtian people: as Schooles of learning, Colledges, Vniuerſities, Innes of Court, and other ſuch like places where youth are trained vp and fitted to bee vſefull members of the Church: yea alſo wee ought to pray for Chriſtian Families, that in them children may from their infancie be trained vp in pietie. In the Scripture there is frequent mention made of children of the Prophets, 2. Kin. 2. 3, 5, 7. & 4. 1. & 6. 1.which were trained vp vnderunder Prophets to ſucceed them in their functions. And there were Colledges, and other like places for training vp of theſe.2 King 22. 14.
Concerning Seminaries, 1. Sam. 19. 18. 20.wee are to deſire two things eſpecially.
1. A continuance of them.
2. Gods bleſsing on them: that they may flouriſh in good learning, and that their learning may be ſeaſoned with Grace: for otherwiſe it may proue more dangerous then commodious to the Church of God.
This extent of our deſire for the good of Gods Church after our time, ſheweth, that therein wee aime more at Gods glory, and his Churches good, then at any priuate benefit to our ſelues.
§. 49. Of praying againſt euills which annoy the Church.
Q. VVHat are the euills from which we ought to pray that the Church may be protected?
A. The dominion of ſinne, of Satan, and of all euill men which are Satans miniſters and inſtruments.
Theſe hauehave kingdomes:Rom. 5. 21. for ſinne raigneth, and that vntounto death, where it findeth entertainment: and it maketh men ſeruants vntounto it ſelfe.Rom. 6. 17. Satan alſo is the god and Prince of this world. and as a Prince he ruleth and worketh in the children of diſobedience, 2 Cor. 4. 4. Ioh. 14. 30.All tyrants, perſecutors, and ſuch like enemies of the Church,Eph. 2. 2. being in authoritie, are the deputies, and Vice-roys of ſinne and Satan: vſing the vttermoſt of their power to bring men into ſubiection vnderunder ſinne and Satan: the chiefeſt of theſe is Antichriſt. The kingdome of all theſe is contrary to Chriſts kingdome: and the ſtanding of them hindereth the comming of Chriſts kingdome: and in that reſpect are we to pray that they may be weakned and demoliſhed. Yea we are to pray that euerything which cauſeth offence in the Church may be remoued:Math. 13. 41. for which we hauehave an expreſſe promiſe.
Theſe are the ſuits which we ought to put vp for the Church indefinitely: and for ſuch parts thereof as we neuer knew, ſaw, or heard of.
§. 50. Of the things to be craued for particular Churches which we know.
Q. HOw ought we to pray for particular Churches whoſe eſtate we know?
A. We ought to frame our prayers according to that wee heare, ſee, or otherwiſe know of any. As
1. If any eſpeciall bleſſing be beſtowed on any,Col. 1. 9, 10. to pray that it may be continued and increaſed.
2. If any miſchieuous plots be practiſed againſt any,Eſt. 4. 16, 17. to pray that they may be preuented.Acts: 2. 5.
3. If miniſters or other members of any Churches be ſurpriſed,Heb. 13. 19. to pray that they may be deliuered.
4. If perſecution be raiſed againſt any Church,Acts 4. 29. to pray that either that fire may be quenched,1. Pet. 5. 10. or elſe that ſufficient courage and ſtrength may be giuen to ſuch as are perſecuted to hold out, and endure the vttermoſt tryall.
5. If any noyſome weeds of Idolatrie,Gal. 5. 12. hereſie, ſchiſme, or the like, ſprout vp in any Church, to pray that they may bee rooted out. To ſharpen our prayer herein, we ought oft to call to mind that which in this caſe is promiſed by Chriſt, EueryEvery plant which my heauenly Father hath not planted ſhall bee rooted vp.Math. 15. 13.
This is that true vſe which we are to make of the knowledge that we hauehave of the eſtate of any of Gods Churches.