The Whole Armor of God, Exegesis · Treatise 3 · Part 5
THE FIFTH PART.
The helpe of Prayer.
§. 131. Of watching vntounto Prayer.
THE fourth generall branch, is concerning the helpe of Prayer, Which is watchfulneſſe, noted in this clauſe,
Watch thereunto.]
The originall word according to the proper notation of it,foreign. ſignifieth to awake and abſtaine from ſleepe: it is properly attributed to the body, metaphorically and by way of reſemblance vntounto the ſoule. Sleepe of the body, is ſuch a binding of outward ſences, as they can not exerciſe their ſeuerall functions: as the eye cannot ſee, the eare cannot heare, and ſo in the reſt: Watchfulneſſe is contrary hereunto, a keeping of the ſences free and looſe, ſo as readily they are able to performe their functions. Thus by way of reſemblance, when the ſoule is ſo poſſeſſed and ouercome with ſecurity and ſpirituall ſenceleſneſſe, as it cannot performe the duties of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, it is ſaid to be aſleepe: when it rowſeth vp it ſelfe, and caſteth away ſecurity, it is ſaid to watch; in this ſence ſaith the Apoſtle,c1 Theſ. 5. 6. Let vsus not ſleepe as doe other, but watch.
Moſt reſtraine this watching vntounto prayer, What watchfulnes is here meant.to the inward ſpirituall watchfulneſſe of the ſoule: which I will not denie to be here eſpecially meant. But yet I cannot thinke that the watchfulneſſe of the body is excluded: for if the body be drowſie, the mind cannot be watchfull. The Apoſtle by this clauſe would rowſe vp both body & ſoule vntounto prayer. The watchfulneſſe of the body alone is nothing: It is the ſpirit, the vprightneſſe, ardency, and cheerefulneſſe of it, which maketh prayer to be acceptable to God, as we heard before.
§. 131. Of Popiſh Night vigils.
RIght watching vntounto Prayer, is to be noted againſt the Night-vigils of Papiſts, who place an extraordinary great point of Religion and deuotion in the obſeruing of them.Bellarmin. de bonis oper. lib. 1 cap. 11. Vſually they make three vigils, one at the cloſing vp of the day, and beginning of the night. Another at mid-night. The third at the cloſing vp of the night, and beginning of the day. In ſome places they hauehave more vigils, as ſome are more ſuperſtitious then others. Theſe vigils they ground on this and other like places, where we are commanded to watch vntounto Prayer; as if they who waked to mumble ouer and ouer a few ſet prayers, whilſt others ſlept, obſerued this precept. For in the outward babbling of a few prayers, ſtandeth the greateſt part of their Religion. I wot well thoſe night prayers are oft performed ſo drowſily, and ſleepily, that it were better they were faſt aſleepe in their beds, then betwixt ſleeping and waking ſo to mocke God.
Obiect. dPſal. 119. 62.Dauid ſaith, that at mid-night he would riſe to giuegive thankes vntounto God.
Anſw. He did not make it a law eueryevery mid-night to riſe, but occaſion being offered, hee would euen then riſe. And ſo ought eueryevery Chriſtian to doe: for this is compriſed vnderunder that particle Alwayes, or in eueryevery ſeaſon. Thus eActs 16. 25.Paul and Silas being in priſon, Prayed at midnight, and f& 20. 7.Paul afterward preached vntill mid-night: Yet did they not ordinarily vſe this, nor appoint it a Law vntounto themſelues, or others. Extraordinary actions are not to be enioyned as ordinary things: then ſhould wee ſpend eueryevery day in faſting.
I might further ſhew many differences betwixt Dauid, paul, Silas, their praying at midnight, & papiſts praiers, but of this I ſpake*§. 121. before in the point of Canonicall houres,
§. 132. Of ſuperſtitious watching for Chriſts comming.
2 RIght watching vntounto prayer is to be noted againſt a ſuperſtitious practiſe of many,A ſuperſtitious waking for Chriſts comming. whom I hauehave knowne to vſe to ſit vp all night at certaine times of the yeere, keeping themſelues awake with talking one with another, playing on inſtruments, ſinging and the like, vponupon a conceit that Chriſt will come in iudgement on ſome of thoſe nights of the yeere, and they would not then be found aſleepe, but awake, becauſe Chriſt ſaid, gMat. 24 42.Wake for you know not what houre your Maſter will come.
Theſe erre many waies.
1 In that they preſcribe certaine ſet times for Chriſts comming,hMat. 24. 36. Whereas no man knoweth it.
2 In that they conceit hee ſhall come in the night, which is vncertaine, for he may come as well in the day time for ough any man knoweth. Indeed Chriſt ſpeaking of his comming to iudgement, ſaith,iLuke 17. 34. in that night: but this word Night is taken ſenecdochically for day or night, a part for the whole:k& v. 20. a little before he calleth it the day, when the ſonne of man ſhall be reuealed, and implyeth, that when he commeth, men ſhall be eating, drinking, buying, ſelling, planting, building, which are works of the day time. Yet I will not deny but that he may come in the night time.
3 In that they imagine that they which are aſleepe when Chriſt commeth, cannot be well prepared to meet him. Whereas in truth a man that hath repented him of his ſinnes, and with faithful prayer commendeth himſelfe to God, and ſo goeth to ſleep, is as fit in his ſleepe to be awaked and taken vp to iudgement, as if he were in the act of prayer.
4 In that they interpret that precept of Chriſt,aMat. 24. 42. wake, of bodily waking: and watching here in this text of bodily watching. But waking and watching in theſe and ſuch like places, imply not onelyonly a keeping of the eyes, but of the heart alſo awake & attentiue vponupon that which is done.
§. 133 Of watching both in body and in Spirit.
TO let all theſe & other like erronious conceits paſſe, & to returne to our matter. As outward watchfulneſſe of the body is nothing acceptable to God, vnleſſe the ſoule alſo be watchfull, ſo the ſoule cannot poſſibly bee watchfull, vnleſſe it hauehave the helpe of the bodies watchfulneſſe: for the parts of the body are thoſe *Organa.inſtruments whereby the powers of the ſoule are exerciſed. Wherefore both muſt bee ioyned together, as eaſily may bee gathered out of Chriſts charge to his Diſciples,bMat. 26. 41. Watch and pray. That hee ſpeaketh of bodily watchfulneſſe is cleare, for he found them aſleepe, and therefore ſaid, Watch. As cleare alſo it is that he ſpeaketh of ſpirituall watchfulneſſe becauſe he inferreth this clauſe, that yee enter not into temptation: it is not bodily watchfnlneſſe alone that can keepe vsus from temptation. Yet further this metaphor of watching hath a large extent: for it is a military word, and the Apoſtle ſtill holdeth on like a wiſe Captaine to inſtruct Chriſtian ſouldiers what to doe. In time of warre there are certaine appointed continually to watch in ſome ſconce, watch-towre, or other like eminent place, where they muſt rowſe vp themſelues throughly that they ſleepe not, and not onelyonly remaine awake, but prie and view vp and downe eueryevery where and diſcry what may be hurtfull or helpfull to the army. So as watching vntounto prayer implyeth a diligent obſeruing of all ſuch things as may help vsus or hinder vsus therein. In this ſence the Apoſtle ſaith of Miniſters, that they cHeb. 13. 17watch for the ſoules of their people, that is, carefully obſerue what may make to the good, or what tend to the hurt of their ſoules.
I might out of the full meaning of this metaphor collect many particular duties, and diſtinctly handle them all, but for breuity ſake I will drawe all to one doctrine, which is this,
For the better performance of prayer, Doct. Both body & ſoule to bee rowſed vp to Prayer.both body and ſpirit of him who prayeth, is to be rowſed vp, and kept from inward and outward drouſineſſe, and due obſeruance is to bee made of all things helpfull or hurtfull thereunto. To this purpoſe tend thoſe many exhortations which by Chriſt & his Diciples are made to watch. When Chriſt warned his Diciples of his laſtdMar. 13. 37. comming, andeMat. 26. 41 when he was in his agony he bid them watch SofCol. 4. 2 Paul, ſog1 Pet. 4. 7. Peter. To this purpoſe alſo tendeth that patheticall ſpeech of Dauid, hPſal. 57. 8Awake my glory, awake Viol and Harpe, I will awake early.
§. 134 Of the cauſes of drowſineſſe.
BOth body & ſpirit are carefully to be rowſed vp,Reaſon. Cauſes of bodily drowſineſſe. becauſe of our naturall pronenes to drowſines, and heauineſſe in body & ſpirit, two cauſes there be which cauſe bodily ſlumbering. Firſt debility and weakneſſe of ſenſes, whence it is that young children and old folkes, are more proane to ſlumbering then luſty ſtrong perſons. Secondly, abundance of vapours which ſtupifie the ſenſes: for fulneſſe of meat and drinke, whence thoſe vapors ariſe,Cauſes of ſpirituall drowſineſſe. make men ſluggiſh and ſleepy. Anſwerable there be two cauſes which procure ſpirituall ſleepineſſe and ſlumbring.
1 Weakeneſſe of the fleſh (as Chriſt implieth when he checketh his Diſciples for their ſluggiſhneſſe,1 Weakeneſſe of the fleſh. ſaying, iMat. 26. 41.The fleſh is weake:) whereby it commeth to paſſe that by nature we are exceeding drowſie & dull, as to all good and godly exerciſes, ſo eſpecially to Prayer, which is the beſt of all. I neede not further proue this then by appealing to the conſcience of eueryevery one that vſe this holy exerciſe. Many are loath to goe about it: many when they are at it, fall faſt aſleepe, askActs 20. 9. Eutichus. I hauehave heard this direction preſcribed, when one cannot ſleepe; Say thy prayers, and thou ſhalt ſleepe: it is commonly the direction of prophane perſons, ſpoken of ſluggiſh prayers, (for if a man pray in the ſpirit with that earneſtneſſe which hee ought, it will rather keepe him the longer from ſleepe) but yet it ſheweth that men are commonly dull and drowſie in Prayer. Our ſpirituall ſluggiſhneſſe maketh our hearts heauy, and our eyes ſleepy: Againe, our bodily ſluggiſhneſſe maketh our ſpirits more dull.
2 Abundance of bye,2 Abundance of by-th…ghts wandring, vaine, earthly, wicked thoughts, cares, luſts, and ſuch other things, which like vapours ariſe in our ſoules, and which the Diuell alſo is very buſie to caſt into our hearts in time of prayer. Theſe adde much vntounto our naturall dulneſſe and drowſineſſe; ſo as in theſe two reſpects there is great neede of watchfulneſſe.
§. 135. Of going drowſily to Prayer.
LIttle doe they conſider the neede thereof,Vſe 1. Such as goe drowſily to prayer taxed. who going to prayer, are ſo farre from rowſing vp their ſpirits and bodies, that they doe, as it may ſeeme, purpoſely ſet themſelues to ſleepe: ſome compoſe themſelues to ſuch geſtures as make them ſleepe, they hang downe their heads, and leane them vponupon their armes or hands: they ſit vponupon ſeates, or vponupon the ground, they cloſe their eyes, &c: Some neuer pray till they goe to bed, and ſo ſleepe preuenteth them: ſome againe come immediatly from their pots and platters, or from their worldly affaires and buſineſſes, and preſently goe to prayers, without any premeditation or cogitation of what buſineſſe they hauehave in hand. With what deuotion can ſuch prayers be performed? Is this to watch vntounto prayer? The truth is, that ſuch doe but mocke God.
§. 136. Directions for Watchfulneſſe.
Vſe 2 FOr auoiding of this and ſuch like aberrations, and for a better performance of this duty of watchfulneſſe, obſerue theſe few directions following.
In regard of the body,1 Chooſe fit times. firſt chooſe ſuch times as are freeſt from drowſineſſe; theſe are mornings: for our bodies hauing reſted all the night, and by reſt being refreſhed, are the more free, ready, and cheerefull to prayer. Schollers find it the fitteſt times for their ſtudies:Aurora muſis amica, and ſo may Chriſtians, if they obſerue a difference of times, find it fitteſt for their prayer. If for prayer ſake we riſe the ſooner, we watch vntounto Prayer.
2 Conſidering that it is ſo needefull that we pray at euening,2 Rowſe vp thy ſelfe. which is a drowſie time, rowſe vp thy ſelfe before prayer; goe not to it halfe ſleeping, halfe waking. Learne of the watchfull Bird,Virgil. ales. Ouid Simile. the Cocke, who when he is about to crow, eſpecially in the night time, flappeth hi… wings, and ſo beateth hi… body, and rowſeth vp himſelf… to crow. Doe thou ſomething to driue away drowſineſſe ſtirre thy body, walke, meditate, ſing a Pſalme befor… prayer at euening. Vſe ſuch geſt…res as wi…l keepe thee from drowſineſſe, kneele vpright, or to helpe thy weakeneſſe, ſtand. Haſten to prayer, goe not to it too late. Who doe theſe things for prayers ſake, Watch vntounto Prayer.
3 Moderate thine appetite,3 Moderate thine appetite. and vſe a temperate diet, if after meate thou art to pray: ſobriety is often ioined to watchfulneſſe, as an eſpeciall helpe thereof.aLuk. 21. 34, 36. Chriſt hauing giuen a warning to take heede of ſurfetting, drunkenneſſe, and cares of this World, inferreth this exhortation, Watch and pray: otherwiſe we cannot well watch & pray. Wherefore ſaith Saint Paul; b1 Theſ. 5, 6.Let vsus watch and be ſober. And Saint Peter, c1 Pet. 4. 7.Be ſober and watching in prayer. Who eate for prayer ſake ſomewhat the more ſparingly, doe watch vntounto prayer.
In regard of the ſoule,
1 Take heed it be not too much diſtracted with worldly thoughts,4 Auoid diſtractions. dMat. 13. 22.Cares of this World choake the Word, much more will they choake the ſpirit of Prayer. Hee that remembring the time of prayer, disburdeneth his ſoule hereof, Watcheth vntounto prayer.
2 Moſt eſpecially be watchfull againſt ſinne,5 Take heede of ſinne. which (as*§. 20. hath beene ſhewed before) like birdlime wil ſo cling the feathers of the ſoule, that it cannot flie vp to Heauen. Nothing more dulleth the heart of man then ſinne. He that yeeldeth thereto can hardly recouer himſelfe, and reuiue his ſpirit againe in a long time.e2 Sam. 12, 1, &c. It was three quarters of a yeere before Dauid was throughly recouered after his great fall; for his child was borne before, and an extraordinary meanes was vſed to recouer him, the Prophet Nathan was ſent vntounto him.
It was an admirable and extraordinary thing that Peter was ſo ſoone recouered. Sinnes doe grieue the ſpirit, and quench his good gift in vsus: the Spirit being grieued and prouoked to withdraw his preſence, will not returne againe with a wet finger. Eſpecially be watchfull againſt ſuch ſinnes as by nature thou art moſt proane vntounto: for in them eſpecially will Satan moſt attempt thee when thou art going to prayer. If thou beeſt giuen to luſt, make a couenant with thine eye not to caſt it vponupon a ſtrange woman: auoide wanton company, gariſh attire, fulneſſe of bread, and whatſoeuer may prouoke luſt: ſo in anger, voluptuouſneſſe, couetouſneſſe, &c. This is an excellent point of wiſdome, and argueth great watchfulneſſe vntounto prayer, if for prayer ſake it be done.
3 Take notice of Gods mercies and iudgements,6 Obſerue Gods dealing with thee. of his bleſſings beſtowed on thee, and of thy wants, of the eſtate of others, and of other points concerning the matter of prayer. Reade alſo ſome part of Gods Word before Prayer: Thus ſhalt thou come furniſhed to Prayer. This is alſo to watch vntounto Prayer.
Many complaine of their vntoward performance of this heauenly duty, but obſerue not the reaſon thereof, which is this, They watch not vntounto Prayer.