Peters Enlargement, Sermon
PETERS ENLARGEMENT.
Acts 12.6.7.
And when Herod would hauehave brought him forth, the ſame night Peter was ſleeping between two ſouldiers, bound with two chaines; and the Keepers before the doore, kept the priſon.
And behold the Angell of the Lord came vponupon him, and a light ſhined in the priſon: and hee ſmote Peter on the ſide, and raiſed him vp, ſaying; Ariſe vp quickly, And his chaines fell off from his hands, &c.
HERE is a ſtorie of Peters, 1. Impriſonment. 2. Enlargement: With the cauſe of the one, and meanes of the other. Herod hauing vexed ſome, ſlaine a ſecond, now commits the third; and all this to gratifie the Iewes. Peter thus committed, is bailed by the Church, or rather remooved and freed by petition; they pray heartily for him, in the 5. verſe, and they ſpeed as happily, whileſt they are praying, God giues in the priſoner amongſt them. The manner of his delivery is here reported, and that was very ſtrange, beyond Herods purpoſe, the priſoners expectation, the Keepers meaning, all mens hopes: Herod held his purpoſe he had begun, and the next morning he meant an end of him, Peter had made his concluſion to morrow (thinkes he) (for meſſages paſt betweene him and the Church, which ſpent this night in Prayer for him, and therefore knew the danger) I muſt be put to it, therefore I will ſtrengthen my ſelfe to night: The Keepers ſtood vponupon their guard, and reſolved that no Peter ſhould paſſe them: yet is Peter delivered, and how I pray you? God remoues all impediments, for nothing was in readineſſe.
Firſt, for man, entrance was there none, therefore God ſends an Angell, and there was no ſtop againſt him.
Next, in the darke, it was hard to find which was which; God directs an Angell to him, and hee comes vponupon him, and miſſes not the man, though bound to the ſame chaine with two others, as in ſtrict impriſonments they vſed to doe.
Thirdly, they were in the darke, and that was ill for noyſe; The Angell brings his darke lanthorne with him, and ſhines to Peter and none elſe.
Fourthly, the priſoner can doe little for himſelfe, he is aſleepe, the Angell wakes him; he is laid, the Angell raiſes him; he is amazed, the Angell directs him; he is bound, the Angell vnties him; hee knowes not where he is, the Angell guides him; hee is to paſſe through ſundry difficulties, the Angell conducts him through them all, and ſo diſmiſſes him.
Wee will vſe no more words about a plaine Storie, but acquaint you with our meditations: they containe the ſucceſſe of the Churches prayers; they prayed for Peter, the Angell thereupon is ſent to Peter: where ſee; 1. How the Angell findes him: 2. How the Angell delivers him.
For the firſt, he findes him ſleeping, in the midſt of feares and foes: From whence was this ſleepe, was it worldly ſorrow that cauſed it, or was it carnall ſecuritie?
Anſw. In doubtfull things charitie ſuppoſes the beſt; ſo ſhould we, worldly ſorrow cauſes ſleepe, but how? when it is not extreame, and that ſleepe is ioyned with ſtarting: carnall ſecuritie will cauſe ſleepe, but why ſhould we charge Peter with that at this time; his ſleepe came from a better cauſe, he was at peace with God, he had the Churches prayers for him, the cauſe for him, his conſcience for him, God and his Angels for him; he could die but once, and for one death hee was prepared: hence his boldnes before, Chapters 4. and 5. hence his confidence, here he reſolued with Dauid, I will lay me downe and ſleepe, and withall, God gaue reſt to his beloued, as it is in the Pſalmes, reſt more then ordinary to his minde, to his body: hence the Angell can hardly awake him, and being awaked, he is not terrified, as a guiltie perſon would hauehave beene in this caſe: doe then but conſider, 1. The man. 2. His behaviour in like caſes. 3. The time and circumſtances. 4. The exerciſes of the Church for him. 5. The meſſenger, and meſſage ſent to him. 6. The manner of his behaviour when he is awaked, and you will ſee that his ſleepe grew not from diſtemper, but from ſtrength of faith and comfort.
Now to the Points.
Where firſt from the order, Doct. 1 ſee the power of ioynt prayers, they beare downe all before them, and prevaile in heaven and earth, as the Word that comes from heaven, proſpers in the thing wherevnto it is ſent; Eſay 55.ſo the word that goes to heaven, the prayers of the Church ſirike vp to God, there they lie at his gates, and never will away without their errand, and when they are anſwered, then they come downe with authoritie, and raigne over all impediments below, witneſſe this Story: Peter is committed, the perſecuters are reſolute, the foes many, the friends few, meanes none but God, to God the Church goes; the enemies plotte, the Church prayes; they ſhut the priſon doores, the Church opens heavens doores; ſo ther's old tugging for the priſoner, but the Church winnes him. God, to let them ſee what prayers bee, ſends him to them while they are praying; there, ſaith God (if you will rake no deniall) there he is; thereby pointing vsus to the meanes of his deliverance: we need not many words for proofe of this, Iames ſaith, The prayer of one righteous man prevailes much; Iames 5.if of one, what of twentie! what of an hundred! and he inſtances in Elijah, Hee alone could open and ſhut heaven, then well may many open and ſhut priſons on earth: nay adde further, the ioynt prayers of vnbeleevers and hypocrites hauehave done much: when heatheniſh Niniuie faſted and prayed, God heard; Jonah 3.when falſe Rehoboam humbled himſelfe and his people, 2 Chron. 12.God was intreated; how much more ſhall the faithfull prayers of the Church prevaile, prevaile (I ſay) both for the preventing and removing evils, and obtaining and keeping of good things: What ſhall we inſtance the life of Aſa, Iehoſaphat, Hezekiah, when was it otherwiſe, when did the Church of God euer ioyne in a common petition to God but they ſped? no inſtance to the contrary.
No marvell, Reaſ. 1 this exerciſe is well grounded and warranted, it hath the warrant of a Precept:Iames 5.
1. Pray for one another; call vponupon me.
2. The warrant of a promiſe, Pſal. 50.I will deliuer thee.
3. The warrant of experience, never any yet vſed it but they prevailed.
Prayers are preſents very welcome to God, Reaſ. 2 he prefers them to all ſacrifices, being immediate worſhips of his Maieſtie; Let me heare thy voyce it is pleaſant: No father loues the voyce of his children, like as God loues the voyce of his Church; Cant. 2.14.Tis his muſicke and perfume. Rev. 5.8.
3. The parties are very deare who tender them, Reaſ. 3 God loues his Church aboue all creatures, he gaue his Sonne for her, and therefore her ſutes ſhall hauehave acceptance: Let me ſee thy face, its comely; Cant. 2.14.Eſther never pleaſed Ahaſueroſh ſo well, as the Church pleaſeth Chriſt.
4. The parties from and through whom they are preſented, Reaſ. 4 pleaſe: They are indited and abbetted by the holy Ghoſt, Rom. 8.Rom. 8. tendred by Chriſt Ieſus, and ſhall theſe be denyed? adde to this:
5. The party to whom they are directed, to God, who is all truth, mercy, grace, wiſedome, power, and ſhall not theſe prevaile? Prayers ſet God on worke, and all in God, his wiſedome, his power, his Angels, and what then can hinder?
Looke backward, Vſe 1 and call to minde your ſinne this day, ſee, many a Peter hath beene in priſon, and prayers were not made by the Church; many a member ſicke, and prayers were not made by the Elders; yea many a Church diſtreſſed, Bohemia afflicted, the Palatinate and Valtoline diſtreſſed, yet we did not pray; the enemy could curſe, but wee did not pray, and therefore how iuſtly might God diſtreſſe and leaue vsus deſtitute of his helpe, and the Churches prayers?
2. Looke forward, and preſerue and improue this your intereſt in God, let no Peter, no Preacher, no Chriſtian, no neighbour lie in the chaines by you (whether in the chaines of ſickneſſe, or povertie, or debt, or paine, or ſinne, or temptation) but doe you repriue him: you hauehave a key that will open any locke, a medicine that will heale any wound, a weapon that will prevaile in any place; draw this weapon, vſe this medicine: if men be ſicke, pray them whole, if poore, pray them rich; if ſad, pray them merry.
But is this ſo eaſily done? yes verily by the whole Church; as it is for the outward eſtate when one is very poore, it is hard for two or three to ſet him vp againe, but nothing for a thouſand; and when one is in a pit, it is much for one, but not for many to pull him out: ſee here, it is long of vsus that men lie ſo long vnderunder their burdens, would wee ioyntly commend them to God, our prayers would take, mens chaines would off, Ob. true ſpirituall chaines: Why if ſo, were it not worth the while? Anſ. what, may wee eaſe our brethren of temptations, of paſſions, of luſts, and will wee not? But for outward croſſes, ſaith not Saint Iames, let the prayers of the Church heale the ſicke; ſaith not the ſtory, the prayers of the Church procured Peters liberty? But ſay they bee not alwayes delivered? Ob. yet it is good to get the croſſes mitigated, ſanctified, Anſ. ſweetned, and ſomething will be done if wee pray; doe this then or nothing: perhaps you will excuſe other negligences, you would viſit your ſicke neighbour, but you queſtion, his diſeaſe, your welcome; you would relieue your poore neighbours, but you hauehave it not; why there is no Chriſtian man but hee hath an intereſt in God, a ſpirit of prayer; lift vp a prayer for thy brethren, if thou canſt doe nothing elſe, and this will doe thee and him good, prayer in this caſe for others, is a cleerer evidence of grace, then for our ſelues.
Heere is comfort and encouragement, comfort for our ſelues, if members of the Church, if wee bleede with her, if we pray for her, if wee ſay, If I forget thee, O Ieruſalem, then let my right hand forget her cunning: the comfort is great, wee hauehave that which Saint Paul thirſted for, the prayers of the Church; and this is a priviledge worth ten worlds, and a comfort beyond all apprehenſion, when a man lookes round about him and can ſay, there is a towne, I hauehave ſome prayers there, there is another, I hauehave ſtocke going there, nay in every ſhire, eueryevery nation, ſome that bee enlarged when I am barren, ſome quickened when I am dull, and I am an adventurer in the Churches ſhippe, I hauehave a ſtocke in her treaſure, and an intereſt in her prayers; this keepes the head aboue water, and preſerues from ſinking.
4. For encouragement, to pray for the Church, would Gods people enter into a holy league, and tye themſelues in their ſeverall cloſets, to ſpend ſo much time weekely, or dayly in prayer, for ſome particular perſon, or place, Church, or Nation; I wonder how they ſhould miſſe; tell mee where ever the Churches ioynt prayers did ever miſ-carry, or proue abortiue? in what place, in what caſe, for what people? prayers hauehave beene made for men out of the Church, and hauehave ſped, witneſſe Ninivie; for men in the Church (good men, bad men) and hauehave ſped; prayers hauehave beene made by Land, and hauehave prevailed; on the Seas by Ianah, and hauehave ſped, they hauehave prevailed vnderunder the earth, in dens, and dungeons, and caues; prayers hauehave been made for ſicke men and hauehave holpe them, for dying men, for poore men, for captiues, for priſoners, and hauehave holpen; for men againſt perſecution, againſt temptation, againſt ſorrow, againſt beaſts, againſt men, againſt divels: prayers hauehave beene omnipotent heretofore, why not now?
Ob. Why now, Ob. if we were as others, Gods hand (wee knowe) is not ſhortened, his eare not heavie; but our ſinnes, our crying ripe ſinnes, hinder good things from vsus?
Anſ. Why therefore ſet againſt thoſe ſinnes by prayer, caſt out your owne, cry downe other mens, Anſ. out-cry them.
Ob. Oh but they cry loud. Ob.
Anſ. Yet prayer hath the ſtronger voyce, Anſ. the blood of Chriſt ſpeakes better things then bloody ſins, &c. Let Sodome yeeld ten holy men, Gen. 18. Iames 5. Amos 7.1.2.and ſhee ſhall bee ſpared, let one Elijah ſtand vp for ſtiffe-necked Iſraell, and one Amos plead for rebellious Iudah, and God will ſhew mercy.
Ob. True indeed, if we had ſuch as they, Ob. but our prayers are weake and faint.
Anſ. 1. They were men ſubiect to like paſſions. Anſ. 2. The prayer of the righteous is prevailing. Iam. 5.16.17.3. Theſe here mentioned were new converts, yet prevailed with God for Peter.
Ob. Oh but here the whole Church ioyned: Ob. if all Iſrael might meete from Dan to Beerſheba, there might be ſome hope.
Anſ. We may, and doe more then theſe might; Anſ. 1. we may meet in publique aſſemblies eueryevery Sabbath: 2. theſe were but few that lived in the darke, and met in the night, and in Heſters time in their ſeverall families, and the whole State was then againſt the truth, and againſt the Scriptures, and all religion was diſgraced; yet then they prevailed, much more we now.
Ob. But now it is too late, Ob. many Churches abroad be quite ſcattered, many men at home hauehave their backs and hearts quite broken, with wants, temptations, diſcouragements.
Anſ. Whileſt God cals in his word, Anſ. it is not too late, God is vſed to ſee men ſinking before he ſets in, their extremitie is his opportunitie; when Peter is within one night of the ſword, then is his time.
Ob. Ob. But I hauehave waited, and ſee no ſucceſſe?
Anſw. Anſ. So did the Church, they pray for Peter this weeke, the next, and the next, the doores be ſtill ſhut, the chaines be ſtill on; well now they hauehave but one night more to waite, Gen. 22.they waite that, but ere morning all is wonne: If then we hauehave but one day, one night, one houre to ſpend; hope, pray, waite, that day, that night, that houre, God will be ſeene in the mount: deliverance ſhall come if prayer goe on the errand; it ever was ſo, ever ſhall be ſo, diſpute not but beleeue; there is who prayes and ſpeakes not, & there is too that ſpeakes, who prayes not; if thou wilt pray, thou muſt open thy needs to God, as thy Father, through Chriſt, God-man as thy Mediatour, from God the holy Ghoſt, as the inditer of thy prayers: if thou wilt pray, thy heart muſt be 1. Pſal. 66.18.emptied of purpoſes of ſinne: 2. broken: 3. purged from guile by faith; which faith muſt then worke, before thou beginneſt; Pſal. 86.7. And the 56.9.ſay with David, I will call, and God will anſwer mee; and when thou haſt done, conclude, I hauehave ſpoken, and ſhall in due time and manner be anſwered; thus doe, and be ſure that thou neither begin nor end a lawfull petition (of ſuch onelyonly we ſpeake) before thou art aware, let faith enter thy ſute, and end, and ſubſcribe it, and thou prevaileſt.
Now to particulars.
How findes the Angell Peter? Sure he cannot ſleepe this night, being vponupon his life to morrow, and in all likelihood knowing of it by the Church, howſoever, not ſure of life one day to an end, but like enough to be ſent for at an houres warning, as Iohn Baptiſts head was. Notwithſtanding all this, Peter ſleeps as ſoundly as ever in his life, and wakes without terrour; whence was this, from corruption? no; from naturall courage? no, when Peter was younger, and therefore naturally bolder, he was a diſtard: whence then? conſider the reaſons before, and it will be found, that it was from ſpeciall comfort and confidence in God, which comfort moſt attends priſons and perſecutions: here ſee the ſtrength of ſpirituall peace and comfort.
The Lord hath comforts for his children, Doct. 2 that will quiet and ſupport them in any feares & ſtraits, his conſolations will make a man ſleepe without a bed; liue almoſt without a ſoule: They will make one bold in danger, quiet in trouble, liue in the iawes of death: The ioy of the Lord is ſtrong, Nehe. 8.ſaith Nehemiah, ſtrong indeed that will carry a man over all: Peter had a ſtrong heart, that can thus ſleepe, thus wake, that can looke vponupon Chaines, vponupon Priſons, vponupon Tyrants, vponupon Torments, vponupon Angels; (good and bad) and never breake his ſleepe for the matter. Pauls ioyes were ſtrong, Act. 15that made him ſing in the ſtockes: Davids ſaith ſtrong, that made him ſay, I will lye downe and ſleepe, Pſal. 3.I will not feare though ten thouſand riſe vp againſt me: thoſe were ſtrong and ſtrange ioyes that ſupported Dauid in all his feares, and made him ſay, In the multitude of my thoughts, Pſal. 94.1….thy comforts glad my ſoule: Thoſe ſtrong that triumphed over, rackings, mockings, ſcourgings, &c. as in the eleventh to the Hebrewes.
Queſt. But whence comes their ſtrength?1. Q Whence theſe comforts.
Becauſe they be Gods ioyes, the ioyes of the Spirit, derived immediately from the fountaine; Reaſ. 1 and things be pureſt and ſtrongeſt there.
2. Becauſe ſpirituall, for as ſpirits are more actine and powerfull then bodies, ſo ſpirituall things then bodily and naturall.
3. Theſe ioyes are moſt certaine and durable, theſe overcome and out-liue all croſſes, and all other comforts.
4. They are al-ſufficient, and borrow no helpe from creatures: Nature and Art worke with inſtruments, and by meanes, they cannot ſupport without meate, ſtrengthen without ſleepe, giuegive ſleepe without warmth, nor warmth without a bed, &c. But God can beyond meanes, without means, work comfort, make one ſee in the darke, liue in death.
Queſt. But what be theſe comforts of God?2. Q. What.
Anſ. Precious promiſes applyed by God in due ſeaſon, Anſw. 1 and brought home to the heart, which reviue the ſpirits more then any balme; and theſe promiſes come thicke vponupon Peter now: He thinketh, hath not God ſaid; that the fighing of priſoners comes to him, that he bottles vp all our teares, that we ſhould caſt our care vponupon him, and he will care for vsus, that in ſix and ſeven troubles, they ſhall not come neare me, that in fire and water he will he with me, & did not I heare my Saviour ſay, Bleſſed are they that are per ſecuted for righteouſneſſe ſake; reade not I how David ſaid, I will lie downe and ſteepe, and therefore I will doe ſo too.
2. Strengthening graces, God poures the ſpirit of faith, patience, power, courage, into his, in due time; and they raiſe the heart, as wine the fainting ſpirits; every ſaving grace is healing, is ſtrengthening.
3. Hourely experience of Gods care and providence; dence; and a childe never ſees the louelove of his mother ſo much as when he is ſicke, ſo Gods children, &c.
Now that makes them plucke vp their feete with Iacob, and ſay with Paul, I know whom I hauehave truſted; and with the Church, Thou wilt guide vsus to death; and after (as David addes) receiue to glory.
4. Speciall peace of conſcience, and ioy of the holy Ghoſt, by new expreſſions of Gods fauour, and raviſhments of heaven: then God opens heaven, and they ſee their life and crowne, and ſo are carried over all.
Queſt. When doth God thus comfort his?3. Q. When
Anſ. When they moſt need it, as then the mother brings out her preſerues, when the childe is ſicke: firſt, when they be moſt humbled and emptie of themſelues; therefore after greateſt humiliations come greateſt conſolations, as Dauid, Abraham, and others ever found.
2. But ſpecially in the day of tryall and perſecution, the more the Devill beſtirres him, the more God beſtirres him: thus the ſweeteſt nights that ever Iacob ſpent were in the field, and ſo for Peter; Gen 28. and 32. chap. Pſal. 219.and when had David thoſe large affections to riſe at midnight, when was the Word ſo ſwcete, but when his troubles were bitter?
The Vſe is double, Vſe. 1. get theſe comforts, we get aqua vitae ready againſt qualmes; Bezoar-ſtone, and cordials againſt fits: but the cordials that helpe all, is the holy Ghoſt, the Comforter; Art is blind, and often poſed; Nature weake, and often foyled; (like a bow that muſt not be drawne beyond compaſſe) onelyonly grace and ſpirituall comfort is invincible: get this, and you may ſleepe in a dungeon, liue in the darke, want all, and yet hauehave all; want theſe, and a flea may breake your ſleepe; Dan. 5.and a hand-writing daſh your mirth in the midſt of all friends.
2. Let ſuch as hauehave ſpirituall hearts thus affected, ſtay themſelues here; feare not povertie, there be comforts beyond the paine of famine; feare not ſickneſſe, there be comforts beyond all fits of ſickneſſe: feare not death, feare not chaines, feare not any thing that you can or ſhall ſuffer: Not any thing? Rev. 2.10.Why, a man is ſubiect to racking, to burning, &c. yet feare not, and why? the Lord hath comfort in all, and aboue all tribulations: when he cals a Saul to a crowne, 1 Cor. 1.he makes him another man: ſo when he cals a man to a chaine, Peter is not the man in priſon he was out of priſon; at the firſt he was fearefull of a wenches word, after he was willing, yet fleſh hung backe, Iohn the laſt Chapter, verſ. Act. 5.29.4.13.18. But when put vponupon it, heare his voyce, ſee his face, he can be as quiet, as comfortable, as well in priſon as ever.
Ob. Oh but I finde my ſelfe afraid of words? Ob.
Anſ. So was Peter at firſt. Anſ.
Ob. Oh but, Ob. ſaith our Saviour, beware of men.
Anſ. No man ſo malicious as God is mercifull, Anſ. ſo perilous as God is pitifull. Oh but ſay we liued where we ſhould lie in cold irons, in the darke, bee halfe pined, ſtarved; who can beare theſe? Peter can, any can, when God cals them to it.
O but ſay we were put to the fiery tryall, flames are intolerable and mercileſſe. O but flames are in Gods hands, Daniel 3. Chapter: againe, Martyrs hauehave had more comfort there, then in all their liues before. Oh but ſome of them hauehave cryed out of paines: And doe not men ſo who die in their beds too? but God hath borne them through theſe, and made them amends.
O get then inward ſtrength, and that will overcome all feares, all torments; conclude wee with that good Martyr, if God call ever any of his to any ſuch ſufferings, hee will either weaken the flame or ſtrengthen their faith; hee hath promiſed (that, which let vsus liue and die in; to wit) that he will not tempt beyond ſtrength: And hee is able to doe exceeding aboundantly aboue all that wee can ſpeake or thinke.2 Cor. 10.
Aſſure your ſelues, the ſcare of perſecution is more then perſecution it ſelſe; therefore I ſpeake to your feares, for there is none (through Gods merciemercy) with vsus I am ſure to bee felt (I thinke) to bee feared.
The ſame night, &c. Doct. 3 That the Lord doth often hold his people long in ſuſpence, for thoſe things which hee meanes to giuegive them; hee is to our ſeeming ſlow, but ſure; ſure, but ſlow; thus hee was as good as his word to Abraham, hee gaue him a ſonne, but hee held him off to the laſt houre; hee kept touch with his poſterity, brought them out of Egypt, but he deferred it till the laſt day; his bond was almoſt forfeited, yet he paid it before the Sunſet, Exod. 12.17.41. Thus Ioſeph was long in priſon, yet at the appointed time brought forth; Nal. 105.19.and Iſrael long in captiuity, prayers were made, and yet Daniel could heare no anſwere till night was vponupon him; Dan. 9.Iacob wreſtles till day, &c. ſo alſo the woman of Canaan, Matt. 15, and the Church heere: in all which places wee ſee, that God is mindfull of his day. 2. That hee deferres ſometime till the laſt houre be running.
The reaſon of this delay is manifold. 1. God would turne our eyes backward, Reaſ. and make vsus ſay; O it is iuſt God ſhould deferre me, I hauehave deferred him; hee called and I would not heare; prayed me againe, againe, and againe, and I would not anſwer; therefore it is equall I ſhould call and cry, and not be heard.
2. God hereby would ſharpen our prayers for the preſent, therefore hee ſeemes deafe, becauſe we ſhould ſpeake out; therfore ſlow, becauſe we ſhould be earneſt; thus Daniel interprets it: God deferres him, this is (ſaith hee) but to try me, therefore he ſpits vponupon his hands, and takes better hold; O Lord forgiue, ſaith hee, O Lord heare, O Lord open, and poures ſo many petitions, and arguments vponupon God, that there is no reſiſtance; thus Iacob, he ſees the day comming vponupon him, and he had made nothing of it all night, and therefore now he ſets to it, Goe, ſaith hee, I will not let thee goe without a bleſſing.
3. Hereby hee prepares vsus for the future receiuing of his comforts; thus he humbles vsus, thus he enlargeth vsus, thus fits vsus for thankfulneſſe, the more bleſſings coſt vsus, the better we will priſe them, and prayſe God for them: adde to this, that theſe repulſes driue vsus to further ſearches, Ioſ. 7. Iudg. 20.as the Iſraelites at Ai, and Gibeah.
Doth the Lord thus long deferre ſometime his intended comforts and anſwers? Vſe 1 Let's know the courſes of his providence, and wait vponupon him: behold the husbandman waits; when he hath ſowne his ſeede, he doth not looke to reape and ſow all in a day, his Corne is firſt buried, yea it dies, yea it growes downeward, before it comes vpward, and when it is vp, receiues many a ſnib and checke, yet he waites? And why? becauſe he hath experience: ſo muſt wee, when we hauehave ſowne our ſeed; ſay we bury our prayers, ſay to our ſeeming they die, ſay they grow downeward, backward, ſay all things ſeeme to be worſe after prayer with vsus then before, yet waite; why, we hauehave experience of our owne and other mens ſucceſſe, never did men ſow this ſeed, but they had a croppe, though a late harveſt, yet a harveſt.
Ob. Oh but I hauehave prayed exceeding long. Ob.
Anſ. How long? Anſ. Iſaack prayed twentie yeares for a childe, before he ſped, Abraham thirtie; before he ſped; Abrahams poſteritie were foure hundred yeares in captivitie, before they were delivered; the Church thirſted for Chriſt, one thouſand, two thouſand, three thouſand yeares, before they had him: How many thouſands, hundreds, ſcores of yeares, haſt thou waited?
Ob. O but I hauehave tryed all my friends, Ob. vſed all meanes, prayed my ſelfe, and got others to ſpeake too, and yet no helpe?
Anſ. And might not Peter ſay as much? Anſ. not a Chriſtian in Ieruſalem, but had ſpoken, and ſpoken often, and yet he ſtickes.
Ob. O but matters with me are worſe and worſe, Ob. the more I pray againſt povertie, the poorer I am; the more I pray for patience, the worſe I am; the more I pray for faith, the leſſe I hauehave; the more I pray againſt paſſions and temptations, the more they flie in my face.
Anſ. Is not this as we ſayd, Anſ. that the corne muſt goe backeward, before it come forward; was it not ſo with Abraham and Sarah, the longer they prayed the elder they waxed, and ſo vnfitter for iſſue.
Ob. O but my ſinnes grow ſtronger by prayer. Ob.
Anſ. Not ſo, Anſ. thou feeleſt it more then before; it is not becauſe ſinne is ſtronger, but thou ſounder; againe, theſe motions of ſinne, be not motions of life, but ſymptoms of death; as the fowle ſtruggles, and ſprunts moſt when the head is off: the panges of death be now vponupon thy luſts, take comfort.
Ob. O but now your comforts come too late, Ob. the date is out for me.
Anſ. Why? Anſ. hath God ſayd pray no more, as to Ieremie, hath he ſtopt thy mouth? ſo long as God ſaith, pray; ſo long as the ſpirit within thee ſaith, pray; ſo long as Gods people hauehave hearts to pray; never ſay it is too late to pray: if Peter be out by midnight, or by day-breake, it is as well as if he had beene out a monethmonth before.
Ob. O but delayes breakes the heart. Ob.
Anſ. But note the end of delayes, Anſ. they are never to deny or fruſtrate, but to fit, and to quicken: make theſe vſes of delayes, and then if thy ſute be not honeſt, never begin it; if it be, never leaue it: learne of husband men, when they pull downe a tree, or liſt at ſome blocke, if they cannot ſtirre it, they call in helpe, if it come not at the firſt pull, they pull againe, if not then, ha, againe; if not then, ha, once more; at laſt they feele it comming, and then it comes amaine: learne of Elijah, 1 Kin. 18.43.hee prayed for raine, having prayed lookes about him, nothing comes; he prayed againe, nothing comes; hee prayed againe, nothing comes; at length, O Maſter (ſaith his ſervant) I ſee a cloud, but it is but little; Is it a cloud? then once more to it, and by and by the heavens were masked with cloudes: learne of theſe men, Peter ſtickes in the dungeon, one lifts, he cannot ſtirre him; try you (ſaith he) to a ſecond, to a third, try a fourth, a fiſt; at length heaven ſtirres, the chaines ſtirre, and Peter comes in amongſt them: learne of Chriſt himſelfe; the widdow dealt with a Iudge, not a Father; Luke 18.a bad Iudge, ſhee was alone, a ſimple Orator, yet ſhe prevailes: learne of beggers, they hauehave no command, no promiſe, no acquaintance, no Art; and yet will ſtand it out; the maſter chides, the begger ſtands it out; the dame chides, he ſtands ſtill; the ſervants come, and ſay they dare not ſerue him; the children ſay we muſt not, and yet he will not away. O Lord, helpe our faith, how weake be we, if having precept, promiſe, kindred, Gods ſervants, Gods Sonne on our ſides, we will be put off with a delay: well (as I ſaid) ſo long as a night, an houre, a minute, is left, pray; one night may compaſſe that which an hundred before could not.
It followeth, An Angell, &c.
The Lord hath ever meanes at hand for his ſervants, Doct. 4 comfort and deliverance, if ſet on worke; well might Peter ſay, 2 Pet. 2.The Lord knoweth how to deliuer his, &c. He is never at a ſtand, if they know how to pray, he knoweth how to comfort.
In himſelfe he is al-ſufficient, Reaſ. 1 infinite in wiſedome, to invent meanes; in power, to act them; and if need be, Eſa. 4.5.to create more.
2. He is the Lord of Hoaſts, the Lord of every creature; if our worke lie in the Seas, he is Lord of the Seas; if on the Land, he is Lord there, if in Priſon he beareth the keyes of every Gaole; if heavens can helpe vsus, he commands them; if winds, if beafts, if friends, if ſtrangers, if foes, if Angels; the Lord hath the command of all perſons, things, and places.
For comfort, Vſe 1 roule thy ſelfe vponupon God, caſt thy care vponupon him, he will bring it to paſſe; is thy burden, povertie? Pſal. 37.caſt it vponupon him, and he will helpe it; is it ſinne, feare, ſorrow, whatſoever it be, he can beare it, and diſcharge thee?
Oh but I ſee no meanes, This Sermon was made in the depth of the dearth.I owe ſo much; ſo many in my familie, and no meanes.
This is as if they ſhould hauehave ſaid, If we had a friend in the Court, to moue Herod; if a friend in the Watch, to bribe him; if in the priſon, to ſee him; then ſomething might be done, but now all meanes faile vsus. No, no: God hath meanes beyond our ſight, if men cannot doe it, Angels can and ſhall: and if no man will pay the Widdowes debt, God will: if no body elſe will feede Eliah, 2 King 4.the Ravens ſhall: what doe wee talke of meanes? all meanes are ſhut vp in God.
Ob. O but my caſe is deſperate, Ob. it is not poſſible to helpe me.
Anſ. Now we ſhall hauehave a tale of impoſſibilities: Anſ. And why not poſſible; ſhall any thing be impoſſible to God?
Ob. O but there be an hundred blockes in my way. Ob.
Anſ. But what is in his way, Anſ. that makes his way through the ſeas, ſtones, wood, iron, &c? Eſa. 43.16.goe to the priſon, there is a blocke, a guard; paſſe that guard, there is a blocke, a doore; paſſe the doore, there is another, a chaine; paſſe the chaine, there is another, an iron gate. O but what of this, if they can breake through all hinderances of vnbeliefe, diſcouragements to prayer: God will breake thorow theſe and a thouſand more, to their comfort. O but God workes no wonders now. Marke our Saviours callection from Manna to bread. Mat. 4. Deut. 8.3. Eſa. 9.6.No? his Name is wonderfull ſtill; his power as great as ever, his wiſedome as deepe as ever, his promiſes as good, his louelove as much to his as ever, our need as much, our intereſt as good, our Saviour as good; all things ſtand as before: if wee can vſe former meanes, we ſhall finde former ſucceſſe, and God will doe abundantly aboue all that we can ſpeake or thinke: wee hauehave the Lords promiſe for this, Epheſians 3.20. and Eſay 42.16. I will make darke light, and crookedneſſe ſtraight: wee hauehave had our owne experience, let any man that hath had any acquaintance with God and this holy dutie, tell me when prayers were not ſucceſ-full; when didſt thou ever ſpeake to thy heavenly Father, but he did anſwere thee with ſome eaſe, ſome comfort? When didſt thou ever pray, but thy heart was thereby ſomewhat lightened? and if thou canſt not but ſay with David, Pſal. 139.3.in the ſame day I asked, I was thus far anſwered, That my heart was ſtrengthened, Pſ. 139.3. doe not faile to conclude with David, Though I walke in the midſt of troubles, yet (vponupon prayer) I ſhall be revived, 7. and God will perfect his mercies in me for ever, 8.
Thus wee hauehave diſpatcht ſome meditations: more we hauehave, but they muſt be onelyonly named; as
1. Herod would, but could not bring forth Peter, to tryall and execution: men be but men, and muſt doe as they may; for what they would doe againſt the Church, nor they, nor all the Divells in hell can doe.
2. The Lord can giuegive ſleepe and peace in any place, at any time, in any company.
3. Gods beſt ſervants and meſſengers, are ſometimes yoaked with vileſt offenders, &c.
4. Gods beſt creatures are the Churches ſervants: Angels.
5. Laſtly, the Lord can quickly ſhake his out of their chaines, rags, feares, fetters, &c. But what doe I meane thus to exceede: Brethren I would faine hauehave you more thirſtie of your time, doe you not waſte it (as others doe) in idle impertinencies, much leſſe in ſurveying States and Kingdomes; It is not for vsus to ſit vponupon Crownes and thrones, and to turne Stateſmen; it is for vsus to be thankefull where God bleſſes, and to be prayerfull when the Church labours; to this end I hauehave ſayd thus much; to perſwade you to the practice of what you know, now your turne follows, lets ſee what will be done, and how well you will improue time, in ſpeaking to God; rather then to, or of men. (⸪)
FINIS.
End of the text · Robert Harris, Peters Enlargement (1624)