The Doctrine of Fasting and Prayer, Sermon 2

The Doctrine of Fasting and Prayer · Sermon 2

p. 27SERMON II.

Aug. 17. 1625.

FOlloweth the duty whereby David expressed his love and compassion to these men,Nota. 2. he prayed for them. For, though this be not expressed in the first part of the verse where the duty is mentioned that he performed towards these men in their misery, yet is it evident, 1. By the expresse words of the last clause of the verse, where he mentioneth the successe he had in the duty he performed for them: and 2. by this also that he saith he fasted, and humbled his soule for them: for, in all fasts and exercises of humiliation that Gods people have kept, prayer was the chiefe duty they performed; and all other things they did in those exercises, they did onelyonly to helpe and further themselves in prayer, Esa. 58. 3. To make their voice to be heard on high: and Ion. 3. 8. to make them cry more mightily unto God. The Doctrine then that we are to learne from this example of David, is this.

That a chiefe duty we are to performe to them that are in misery,Doct. 2. is to pray for them. See the proofe of the point in five degrees.

1. This is a chiefe duty whereby we do expresse the truth of our love unto any, and whereby we may do them good. When our Saviour had commanded p. 28us to love our enemies, and to do good to them th…t hate us, M…t. 5. 44. He adds, And pr…y for them.

2. This is duty that is to be performed by us …owards all men, 1 Tim. 2. 1. Yea even towards the wickedest men that live upon …arth: See how importunate Abraham was with God for the beastly Sodomites, Gen. 18. 32.

3. This duty is to be performed specially for s…ch as are Gods people, though it be but in outward profession. This course Moses tooke to relieve Israel in a great extremity. When God threatned He would destroy Israel, Moses st…od before Him in the breach, (by maine force to keepe Him out) to turne away His wrath, Psal. 106. 23. How stood he in the breach? How did he turne away Gods wrath from them? By prayer, Ex…d. 32. 11. Moses besought the Lord his God. This course David tooke to relieve Gods people in the time of a fearefull pesti…ence, that in a short time had consumed seventy thousand, 2 Sa…. 24. 15. He was deeply affected with their misery, (as appeareth by the story) but what course tooke he to helpe them? he prayed for them, 1 Chro…. 21. 16,—18. and so stayed the plague. So did Moses in the very like case of the pestilence, when …r…th was g…n… out fro… the Lord, and the plague was …, he chargeth Aar…n to t…ke his ce…ser, and put fire therein from the …, … put ince…se on it, and go quickly to the co…greg…tio…, t… make an attonement for them, N…b. 16. 46. True it is, that signified the intercession of Christ for the people, which indeed is that th…t did the deed: but know, 1. that when incense was offred, Gods people also prayed, L…ke 1. 10. And 2. that Christs intercession goeth with p. 29our prayers also, …nd is that that makes them effectuall. He off…eth His incense with the prayers of all Saints, Rev, 8. 3.

4. In strange and extraordinary judgements that are upon Gods people, we are bound not onelyonly to pray for them, but to do it in an extraordinary manner. When the decree was sealed for the destruction of all the Iewes, and Ester resolved to venture her life for the revoking of it, then ordinary prayer would not serve the turne; but Ester commanded extraordinary prayer to be used in such a case, and that for sundry dayes together, Ester 4. 16. Go fast ye for me, and neither eat no… drinke three dayes, night nor day.

5. In publike and generall calamities that are upon Gods people, or hang over them, publike and generall prayers should be used for them. This course Ie…os…phat tooke in that case, 2 Chro…. 20. 13. All luda stood before the Lord in that fast. And so did the Ninivites likewise, Ion. 3. 5. They pr…cl…imed a fast and put on sa…kcloth from the greatest of them to the le…st of them. And the more publike and solemne the prayers are that are made in this case, the more pleasing they are unto the Lord. This appeareth, l…dg. 20. 26. they had before gone up to the house of God, and asked counsell of God, Vers. 18. they had gone up the second time to seeke the Lord, and then did weepe also before the Lord, Vers. 23. but prevailed not: the third time they prevailed. Why? What did they more now, than they did before? 1. They fasted. 2. All the childre… of Israel, …nd all the people we…t up. An evident proofe of this, that when Gods judgements are publike and generall p. 28duplicate page p. 29duplicate page p. 30upon Gods people, our prayers and humiliations should be as publike and generall as is possible: and the more publike, the more pleasing unto God.

Reason. First,Reason 1. The Lord is He that both layeth the judgement upon any of our brethren, and He that must take it off, and therefore the best way we have to helpe them, is to seeke to Him in their behalfe. It is the Lord that sends the pestilence, I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt, saith the Lord, Amos 4 10. And it is He, and He only that moderates and sets bounds unto it. He saith to it as to the sea, Iob 38. 11. Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves …e stayed. He hath set downe in His counsaile and decree, whom it shall smite, and whom it shall spare. The just number that He hath appointed shall die of it, use they what meanes they can (which they are bound to do, because this is a secret unto them) to avoid it. Ier. 15. 2. Such as are for death, (that is, for the pestilence, as it is expounded, Ier. 21. 7.) to death; and such as are for the s…rd, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. And it shall not touch any of them whom He will have to be spared, though they live in never so much danger, Psal. 91. 7. A thousand shall fall at Thy side, and ten thousand at Thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh Thee. And it is the Lord onelyonly that removes it when He pleaseth, that saith to the destroying Angell, It is enough, stay now thy hand, 2 Sam. 24. 16. And lastly, it is He onelyonly that can cure those that are smitten with it, 1 Sam. 26. The Lord killeth, and …aketh alive; He bringeth downe to the grave, and brings up againe. So that to p. 31conclude this reason, we may say with the Prophet, Amos 3. 6. Shall there be evill in a City, and the Lord hath not done it? The plague is in the City, and that is one great evill; secondly, it increaseth there wonderfully, that is another evill; thirdly, the people in the out-parishes will not be restrained, nor kept in, that is another evill; fourthly, many perish with famine, that is another evill. And hath not the Lord done all this? What better course then can we take for their good, than to seeke to the Lord for them?

Secondly,2. The Lord hath commanded us to do this; He desires and lookes for this at our hands, and is highly pleased with it, when we (seeing his judgements upon our brethren) become suiters to Him in their behalfe. He hath commanded, 1 Tim. 2. 1. Before all things, let supplications, &c. be made for all men. Yea He desires it greatly, and lookes for it, even when He is most offended with a people, to be thus sought unto in their behalfe, Ezek. 22. 30. I sought for a man amongst them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: Es…. 59. 16. He wondred that there was no intercessour. Yea He is highly pleased with this, in which respect Ieremy desires God to take notice of this grace in him, and remember it, Ier. 18. 20. Remember that I stood before Thee to speake good for them, and to turne away Thy wrath from them. So that it is a sinne against God to neglect this duty unto our brethren, 1 Sam. 12. 23. God forbid that I should sinne against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.

Thirdly,3. The force and efficacy that there is in the prayers of Gods people to helpe and relieve them that are in misery, is very great. The prayers of p. 32Gods people have prevailed wonderfully with Him, even for wicked men. How oft did Moses prayer remove Gods plagues even from Pharaoh, Exod. 8. 13. 31. 9. 33. 10. 18, 19. When Ah… and his land were almost consumed with a drought and famine, Elias prayer delivered him from that judgement, and brought raine; yet he was a man subject to the like passi…ns that we are, lam. 5. 17, 18. Yea in this very judgement of the pestilence, ye shall see the force of prayer. For, when God hath drawne out this terrible sword of His in His fierce displeasure, and consumed many by it, and stretched out His arme to smite more, the prayers of Gods people have even stayed Him, and held His hand, and prevailed so with Him, that they have even overcome Him, and compelled Him to change His mind, and put up His sword. When wrath was gone out from the Lord, and the plague was begun, A…r…n stood with his incense betweene the dead and the living, and the plague was stayed, Numb. 16. 48. When God had said unto Moses (against Israel for their idolatry) Exod. 32. 10. Let Me alone, that my wrath may waxe …ot again… them, and that I may consume them: Upon Moses prayer, Vers. 14. The Lord repented Him of the evill which He thought to do unto His people. The like He did upon Davids prayer, 2. Sam. 24. 16. The Lord repented Him of the evill, and said to the Ange… that destroyed the people, it is enough; stay now thine hand. Is it in the power of man to overcome God, to withstand Him when He comes to take vengeance, to cause Him to change His mind? Yes verily; Iacob had tha… power, Gen. 32. 26.when the Lord had wrestled with Him, and said, Let Me go▪ he would not let Him go; but Verse p. 3328. as a prince he had power with G…d, and p…ev…iled. And how did he overcome God th…s? By prayer, as you may see Hos. 12. 4. He h…d power …ver the Angell, and prevailed; he wept, … mad… supplication unt… him. Say not, those were rare men; for all Gods people have this name given them, they are all called the Israel of God, Gal. 6. 16. and therefore (as Princes) may prevaile with God this way. And no marvell, though Gods people may thus prevaile with God for the staying of His hand inte…porall judgements, or removing of them from their brethren, seeing they are able to prevaile with God even for the pardon of their sinnes, which are the causes of those judgements, and for the converting and saving of their soules, Iam. 5. 15. The prayer of fai…h shall s…ve the sicke, and if he have committed sin…s, they shalbe forgiven him. And 1 Io…. 5. 16. If any … see his bro…er sinne… sinne which is not …nto death; he shall aske, and he shall give him life for them that sinne not … death.

First,Vse 1. for instruction. To teach us what account is to be made of such as are true Israelites. And know thou h…st two reasons to mo…e thee to make much of such.

1. They are a blessing to the place where they live, Esa. 19. 24. Israel shall be a blessing in the midst of the land. They are the props and pillars of the Land; for their sakes the Land is spared. If there had been butten such in Sodom, Sodom had beene spared, Gen▪ 18. 32.

2. They are able (as Princes) to prevaile mightily p. 34with God, by their prayers; to stand in the breach, and to hold Gods hands; they are the chario…s of Israel, and the horse…e… thereof, as they are called, 2 King. 13. 14. Indeed there are but a few such true Israelites, which makes the Prophet speake in that manner, Psal. 25. 12. What man is he that feareth the Lord? But where thou knowest such, make much of them. Why should not Gods favourit…s be as much honoured, as the favourites of the greatest King? Get as many such into the towne thou livest in, as thou canst. They are as L…ts in Sodom, Gen. 19. 22. till L…t was gone out of Sodom, the Angell could not destroy it. Get as many such into thy family as thou canst. As David professed he would do, Psal. 101. 6. Mi…e eyes shalbe upon the faithfull in the land, that they may dwell with me. Gen. 39. 5. The Lord blessed the Egypti…ns house for Iosephs s…ke. Get such friends as these are. Psal. 119. 63. I am a companion of all them that feare Thee. Vers. 79. Let those that feare Thee turne unto me, and those that have knowne thy testimonies. I tell thee, Paul (as great an Apostle as he was) knew how to esteeme and make use of such friends, Rom. 15. 30. N…w I beseech you, brethren, for the L…rd Iesus Christs sake, and for the l…ve of the spirit, that you strive together with me in your pr…yers to God for mee.

I know I shall offend many of you, in speaking so much for such, whom (above all others) you detest most, and are ready to shew it upon every occasion. And I have wondred much to see the bitter hatred that many (who are otherwise civill men) beare to such as feare God. For think I, Psal. 11. 3. and What h…th the righteous done? B…t I have found in Gods p. 35Booke, the true cause of it, and that is this; that every naturall man hateth God, and is an enemy to Him, Rom. 5. 10. and that God hath put enmity betweene the seed of the serp…, and the seed of the wom…n, Gen. 3. 15. and therefore, so long as thou continuest an enemy unto God, and one of the serpents seed, thou must needs hate all such as truly feare God. The good Lord be mercifull to thee, and give thee an heart to take notice of thy wretched estate, that thou maist repent and come out of it.

The second Use is for reproofe of three sorts of men.Vse 2. I Of them that cannot pray. 2. Of them that do not use to pray. 3. Of them that will not pray.

First of them that cannot pray. O consider how miserable a man thou art. First, thou wantest that whereby thou shouldest helpe thy poore brethren in their misery. A griefe it is to an honest mind, to see his brother in extreme want and misery, and he hath nothing to relieve him with. Therefore is that commandment given Ephes. 4. 28. Let him labour in some honest calling, that be m…y have to give. How much more just cause of griefe is this, when thou canst not so much as pray for him? Secondly, thou wantest that whereby thou shouldest keepe off Gods judgements from thy selfe, or remove them, or yeeld thee comfort in them. For my love th… were mine …dversaries, (saith David, Psal. 109. 4.) but I gave my selfe to prayer. That was his chiefe comfort in all his afflictions. Thirdly, thou wantest that that should give thee comfort in thy present estate. For, thou canst have no assurance that thou art Gods child, or that thou hast any truth of grace in thee, if thou cannot p. 36not pray. The spirit of grace is the spirit of s…pplication, Zac. 12. 10. Because ye …re sonnes (saith the Apostle, Gal. 4. 6.) God hath sent f…rth the spirit of His S…nne into your hearts, crying Abb… Father. No man is the child of God, nor hath the spirit of Christ in him, that is not able feelingly and fervently to call God…Father, and to pray unto Him. Learne therefore to cry earnestly unto God as the Disciples did, L…k. 11. 1. Lord teach me to pray.

The second sort that are to be reproved by this Doctrine, are such as can, but (through lazinesse and propha…e negligence) do not use to pray. Many there be that seldome or never pray; it may be in their sicknesse, or extreme danger they will, but they beare upon them that brand of an hypocrite that Iob spea…eth of, … 27. 10. Will he call upon God at all times? that is, constantly, and not by fits and starts onelyonly. Many that did once use constantly to pray with their families, and in secret, have now given it over. To whom the Lord will one day say as Esa. 43. 22. Tho… hast not called upon …, O …, but th… …ast bee…e …eary of …e, O Is…l▪ they that neglect their calling upon God, and are … of prayer, are weary of God. Ma…y never po…ed out prayer to God for our armies, nor for our brethren visited with the plague: the most of us have neglected it too long, to seeke to God for them in this extraordinary manner. Go quic…ly with thy censer, the plag…e i… beg…, saith M…se… to …, N…b. 16 46, so soon as the plague did begin, we should without delay have importuned the Lord for ou… brethren. Unto these I will say but two words. 1. That God may justly impute to thee the bloud both of our soldiers p. 37that died so miserably, and of the many thousands that have perished by the plague, because thou hast not striven by thy prayers with God for them. According to that rule of our Saviour, Mar. 3. 4. He that useth not meanes to save life when it lieth in his power, is a murtherer. 2. That this neglecting of prayer is a dangerous signe that thou hast no feare of God in thee. Thou castest off feare (…aith Eliphaz, Iob 15. 4.) and restrainest prayer before God. It is a signe thou believest not Gods providence. The foole hath said in his heart, There is no God; (saith the Prophet, Psal. 14. 1.) and one argument to prove this, he gives Vers. 4. They call not upon the Lord. Lastly, this is a signe that thou hast no comfort at all in God, no assurance of His favour. Will the hypocrite (saith Iob, Chap. 27. 10.) delight himselfe in the Almighty? will he alwayes call upon God? The cause why men keepe not a constant course in prayer, is because they have no delight nor comfort in God. O let us therefore make conscience of this duty to pray, and to pray constantly; praying alwayes, as the Apostle requires, Ephes. 6. 18. & 1 Thess. 5. 16. Pr…y without ceasing, not giving over so good and necessary a duty, when we have once begun to take it up.

The third sort of them whom this Doctrine reproveth, are such as (through prophanenesse or worldlinesse) will not pray. Though the State have first enjoyned us to keepe these dayes of humiliation, and 2. gone before us in it themselves, and 3. published for our helpe a booke of prayers, as ample, holy, effectuall, and fit for the present occasion, as ever were in any Liturgy that I have seene; (for all which we are greatly bound to praise the p. 38Lord) yet will they not upon these dayes lend their help to their distressed brethren, nor joyne with us in praier for them. These men certainly are of the mind either of those prophane worldlings that say as Io… 21. 15. What profit shal we have if we pray unto him? Can we get in our harvest, or provide for our families by comming to Church, and joyning with you in prayer? Or will our praying keepe away the plague from us? Or els they are of the mind of those desperate Atheists that said, Es…. 22. 13. Let us eat and drinke; for, to morrow we shall die. This plague increaseth strangely, and is like enough to reach unto us; let us therefore while we live be merry, and make as much of our selves as we can. I grant, every man is not fit to keepe a fast every weeke, specially in this time of harvest; neither did the State intend to enjoyne him to do it: but not to joyne with Gods people sometimes in this duty, specially on these solemne dayes of humiliation, is, First, a great sinne against our distressed brethren, for whom our prayers would the more prevaile, the more generall they were, and the more of us did joyne together in them, as I have proved before out of 2 Chron. 20. 13. Secondly, a matter of great danger to themselves, as that which will provoke Gods displeasure against them. Levit. 23. 29. Whatsoever soule it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, (that the congregation kept their fast on) he shall be cut off from among his people. In which respect God commanded them to keepe it in all their dwellings, Levit. 23. 3. And Zeth. 1. 6. The Lord threatneth to stretch out His hand against, and to cut off them that have not sought the Lord, then much more such as refuse to doe it, p. 39being thus called,Vse 3. and provoked thereunto.

The third and last Use is for examination whether our prayers heretofore have beene, or now be such, so powerfull and effectuall as have been described in this Doctrine; whether we be such Israelites as (like Princes) have prevailed with God in them. Gods children should inquire after their prayers how they speed. David prayeth oft for an answer, Psal. 143 1. In thy faithfulnesse answer me: and protesteth it would be a death to him to find God silent to his prayers, Psal. 28. 1. And what answer hath God given to our prayers? First, we have prayed for the good successe of our armies against the enemies of the Gospell. But the enemy hath still prevailed, so that we may complaine as Psal. 44. 9, 10, 12. Thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies; thou makest us turne backe from the enemy; and they which hate us spoile for themselves, thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price. Secondly, We have prayed for the good successe of our Parliament, that the King, and Nobles, and Commons might agree together (as one man) for the setling of Gods Arke and Religion among us, as they did in Solomons time, 1 King. 8. 1. But the Parliament (for all our prayers) hath received such an end, as every good heart hath cause to lament. Thirdly, We have prayed unto God to stay His hand in the noysome pestilence. When …ron stood with his incense betweene the living and the dead, the plague ceased, Numb. 16. 48. and Davids prayer stayed the plague, 2 Chro. 21. 17, 18. Our D… vid, and our Aarons, and the whole Land, have oft prayed against this judgement, and ever since we began p. 40to pray, the plague hath increased wonderfully. So that we may complaine with the Church, La…. 3. 8. When I cry and shout, He sh…tteth out my prayer. And Psal. 80. 4. O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? What is the cause of this? I answer, surely (though there may be other causes) yet this is the chiefe, Iam. 4. 3. We have asked, and have not received, because we have asked amisse. And that we may the better discerne, what hath been amisse in our prayers, I will shew you how those prayers should be qualified that should prevaile with God.

First, We must pray fervently and importunately, as they that will receive no nay in their suits. The effectu…ll fervent prayer of a righteous man (saith the Apostle, Iam. 5. 16.) …vail…th much. The pray…r of the most righteous man that is, cannot be effectuall, nor availe much, unlesse it be fervent. And to such prayer onelyonly is the promise made, Ier. 29. 13. Ye shall seeke for me, and find me, whe… ye shall s…arch for me with all your heart. The want of this fervency in prayer the Prophet complaineth of, as of the chiefe cause why God did hide His face from His people, and consumed them with His judgements, Esa. 64. 7. There is no…e that c…lleth up…n Thy Name, that stirreth …p h…mself to take h…ld of Thee. By prayer the faithfull may as it were take hold on God, they may hold His hands from … them, as Mo… did when God said to him, Ex…d 32. 10. Let Me …lone. But none doth thus effectually call upon God, and take hold of Him, that prayeth coldly and drowsily, but he onelyonly that stirreth up, and row…eth himselfe unto this duty, that he may do it fervently. And …urely this m…y be one p. 41cause why God hath given no better answer to our prayers hitherto, because he seeth how cold and drows…e we have beene in them, how little affected we have beene with the miseries of our brethren, whom we have seemed to pray for. When our blessed Saviour was in His agony, and his soule was exceeding sorrowfull even unto death, Mat. 26. 38. His Disciples Peter, and Iames, and Iohn, whom He desired to watch with Him, and to be some helpe to Him in that His distresse, fell asleepe; so little sense had they of His extreme misery, Mat. 26. 40. And even so have we carried our selves towards our brethren, the members of Christ, we have pretended a willingnesse to yeeld them our helpe in the miseries they are in, but alas in the prayers that we have seemed to make for them, we have beene overtaken with drowsinesse and sleepinesse, we have beene in them little or nothing at all touched with the sense of their distresse. But as our Saviour said then unto those His Disciples, Mat 26. 41. Watch and pray: So say I unto you beloved, you can never do your selves or your brethren good by your prayers, unlesse when you pray you watch, and looke well to your hearts, to keepe them from drowsinesse and senslesnesse, from wandring and roving, that when you pray, you may pray with fervency, and feeling of your owne necessities, and of the necessities of them that you do pray for. Let us not thinke that (because we see no better fruit of our prayers) the Lord hath beene displeased with us for keeping these fasts, and presuming to become s…itors to Him for our brethren. But let us rather judge, that He hath therefore delayed to answer us hitherto, that p. 42He might cause us hereby to cry lowder, and to be more importunate and fervent with Him in our prayers. For, so dealt He with the good woman of Canaan, Mat. 15. 22, 24. 26. He did not onelyonly delay to helpe her, but by His neglecting of her, and the rough answers He gave her, seemed angry with her, and willing to discourage her, not out of any dislike He had to her or her suit, (wherewith doubtlesse He was much pleased) but onelyonly to increase her fervency and importunity in prayer.

Secondly, We must pray in faith, and confidence to be heard, Let him aske in faith (saith the Apostle, Iam. 1. 6, 7.) els let him not think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. And surely we have just cause to pray in faith and confidence that we shall prevaile with God in these prayers that we make for our distressed brethren. Many good grounds of confidence we have.

1. We have heard that it is the will and commandement of God that we should pray for them. And this is the confidence that we have in Him (saith the Apostle I I…h. 5. 14.) that if we aske any thing according to His will, He heareth us.

2. These extraordinary prayers and fasts that we keepe, are injoyned us by publique authority of our gracious Soveraigne, and of the State. And even that is a thing highly pleasing unto God, and will much further the successe of our prayers. Therefore also it is mentioned by the Holy Ghost as a matter of no small impor…ance, in two of the most succesfull fasts; that is, in that of I…dah, 2 Chron. 20. 3. Iehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seeke the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all ludah. And in that p. 43of the Ninivites, Ion. 3. 7. He caused it to be proclaimed and published through Niniveh, (by the decree of the King and his Nobles) saying, &c.

3. These fasts are kept generally, and every where throughout the Land; and that is also a thing that God is much pleased with; such prayers, and dayes of humiliation that have beene so universall, have beene wont much to prevaile with God: as we have already heard out of Iudg. 20. 26. & 2 Chron. 20. 3, 13. & Ion. 3. 5, 7, 8.

4. The nation and people that we pray for, are Gods owne people, and such as beare His Name. Admit our Land be as sinfull as Sodom was, yet remember that if there had beene but ten such in So…om, as we have many thousands of in our Land, God had heard Abrahams prayer even for Sodom, because of them, Gen. 18. 32. Of our Land (blessed be God) we may yet say, there is no nation in the world at this day, that hath so many righteous persons in it; or that hath the Gospell preached in it in that sincerity and power as we have. Nay, there is no City in the world where the Gospell is so plentifully and so faithfully preached, nor wherein God is so purely worshipped, as in that City that we meet together this day to pray for. And what an encouragement that may be unto us in our prayers, is plaine by that speech of the Prophet in his prayer unto God for Iudah, Ier. 14. 9. Yet thou O Lord art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy Name, leave us not.

And this must be acknowledged for another cause why our prayers hitherto have sped no better, we have not prayed in faith. Many have joyned p. 44with us, whose persons God never yet accepted, or was well pleased with. And till God have respect to Abel himselfe, He will never have respect to any off…ing of his, Gen. 4. 4. And such of us as are in the state of grace, yet have we not stirred up our faith, and confidence to speed, in the prayers we have made. Do it hereafter, and thou shalt be sure to speed the better in thy prayers for it. Say unto thy soule when thou preparest thy selfe to pray, as David did, Psal. 42. 11, Why art thou cast downe O my soule? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Put thy confidence in God, hope and expect to receive a gracious answer from Him when thou prayest unto Him, and thou shalt find better successe in thy prayers, than thou hast beene wont to do.

Thirdly, We must pray in sense of our owne unworthinesse; no man is fit to pray for Gods people, but he that feeles the plague of his owne heart, as Salomon speaketh, I King. 8. 38.

But how can that be? (will you say) if I have when I pray, a deepe apprehension and sense of mine owne unworthinesse and sinne, how can I be import…nate with God in my prayer? How can I pray in faith, or be confident that He will heare me? This must needs deprive a man of all boldnesse, discourage, and make him afraid to speake unto God. This effect the sense of sinne seemes to have had in David, when he cryed Psal. 40. 12. Mi…e iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to looke up: they are more than the haires of mine head, therefore mine heart faileth me.

p. 45But to this I answer, that no faithfull man hath cause to feare this. For, Gods people have never beene so strong with Him in prayer, as when they were most abased and dejected in themselves, insense of their owne weakenesse and unworthinesse. When I am weake (saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 12. 10. weake, and dejected in my selfe through sense of mine owne infirmities and afflictions) then am I strong: strong in the Lord, and fittest to do Him service in an acceptable manner. See an example and type of this in I…cob, Gen. 32. 25, 26 Never was he so strong with God, as when the hollow of his thigh was out of joynt. He had power over the Angell (over Christ the Angell of the covenant, saith the Prophet, Hos. 12. 4.) and prevailed. He wept and made supplication unto Him, He found Him in Bethel. Why wept he so? Certainly from the sense of his owne infirmity and unworthinesse; but he prevailed with God in his supplications neverthelesse, but much the more for that. See this also in the good woman of Canaan; do you not thinke she was much abased in her selfe upon those three repulses that she had received, Mat. 15. 27. yet was her prayer then most strong and effectuall with God, Vers. 28. And this is surely another cause, why our prayers for our brethren have beene so weake, and without force with God; we are too strong, too well perswaded of our selves, to do Gods people any good with our prayers.

Fourthly, We must bring with us unto prayer an unfeigned desire, and a full purpose and resolution of heart to reforme that that is amisse both in our selves and others, and so to remove the cause of Gods displeasure that is kindled against us. Certainly, p. 46this would give wonderfull force unto our prayers. This was that that gave such force unto the fasting and praying of the Ninivites, Ion. 3. See their care and desire. Let them turne every one from his evill way, (say the King and his Nobles in their proclamation, Verse 8.) and from the violence that is in their hands. See also both the performance of that they resolved to do; and how nothing so much prevailed with God for the successe of their prayers as this, Verse 10. God saw their workes, that they turned from their evill way, and God repented of the evill that He had said He would do unt… them, and He did it not. Therefore hath it been usuall with Gods people in their solemne fasts, not onelyonly to make full and particular confession of their sinnes, but also to vow unto God that they would leave and forsake them; yea they were wont solemnly to bind themselves unto this. All this is evident, …eb. 9. 12, 38. & 10. 29. When Phinehas stood up and executed judgement (upon Zimri and Cozbi, as Moses and the Iudges had before done of many others that were joyned unto Baal-Peor, Numb. 25. 4, 5. and so removed the cause of Gods displeasure) the plague was stayed, saith the Prophet, Psal. 106. 30. All the weeping of the whole congregation before the doore of the tabernacle (of which we read Numb. 25. 6.) could do nothing without that. O that God would put into the hearts of all our Magistrates, not onelyonly to appoint and keep solemne and generall fasts, but also (by severe execution of the lawes) to remove the causes of all our plagues. Our King and State (blessed be God) have made good Lawes against idolatry, swearing, prophanation of the Sabbath, murther, and drunkennesse; p. 47but (alas) we want such as Phinehas, to see the lawes executed upon any of these offendors; and therefore it is no marvell though the plague be not stayed. While these fowle sinnes are winked at, and go unpunished, what hope can we have that either our owne prayers, or the prayers of all the Saints upon earth, should prevaile with God for our Land? Till the Achans be found out and punished, (as found they may easily be, for they do every where declare their sinne as Sodom, they hide it not, as the Prophet speaketh, Esa. 3. 9.) but till they be punished, as God did say to Ioshua, Icsh. 7. 10, 11. Get thee up, wheref…re lyest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned; so will He to us: why do you thus fast, and pray, and make such shew of humiliation as you do? find out the sinnes, and punish them that are the causes of Mine anger, and then I wilbe appeased toward you, and your Land.

Certainly one chiefe cause why our fasting and praying hath done so little good, is because this …a…h not beene done. Nay, many of these lewd men that are guilty of these foule sinnes, intrude themselves into our assemblies, and joyne with us in these holy duties. And we know that the sacrifice of the wicked is abomination unto the Lord, Prov. 15. 8. Let me therefore exhort you (beloved) that as you desire to please God in this profession of humiliation that you make, and to benefit your selves or your brethren by your prayers; resolve both to forsake every knowne sinne, and vow unto God this day amendment of life, in such particulars as thine owne heart can tell thee thou hast most offended God by; (and which of us all is it that hath not something to p. 48reforme?) remembring alwayes that speech of the Prophet, Psal▪ 66. 18. If I regardiniquity in my heart; the Lord will not heare me; as also 2. to do what lies in thee to reforme others.

Fiftly and lastly. We must joyne workes of mercy with our prayers. 1. Let no man thinke he shall be a looser by that that he gives (out of conscience towards God) unto the poore. He that hath pitie upon the poore, lendeth unto the Lord (saith the Holy Ghost, Prov. 19. 17.) and that that he hath given, will He pay him againe. 2. Of all almes that is given, that is best and most pleasing unto God, that is given in our Church-assemblies: for, it is an ordinance of God (and even a Sabbath-duty) that collection should be made for the poore when we meet together, as is plaine by that speech of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 16. 1, 2. And of that that is thus given, you may have much more assurance, that it shalbe given to them onelyonly that have need, than you can have of much of that that you give at your doores. 3. There is great force in this worke of mercy to further the good successe of our prayers: els would not the Angell have said thus unto Cornelius, Acts 10. 4. Thy prayers and thine almes are come up for a memoriall before God. His almes-deeds made his prayers more available with God, than otherwise they would have beene.