The Doctrine of Fasting and Prayer, Sermon 7

The Doctrine of Fasting and Prayer · Sermon 7

p. 110SERMON VII.

Decemb. 7. 1625.

IT followeth now that we come to thoseSecond sort of meanes. meanes wherein we are to be principall agents our selves.

For, though this (to speake properly) be the mighty work of God to humble and mollifie the heart of man, and make it able to mourne for sinne, according to that promise Ezek. 11. 19. I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and I will give them an heart of flesh; yet may we (after we are once regenerated) do much to further this great worke of God in our selves. Therefore we see David professeth here that he afflicted his owne soule: and Psal. 69. 10. that he chastned his soule. And of Iosi…h it is said, that he did humble himselfe before God, 2 Chron. 34. 27. and of Manasses, 2 Chron. 33. 12. that he humbled himselfe greatly before the God of his fathers. Yea Gods people are commanded in the day of their fast Levit. 23. 27. to afflict their owne soules: and Ioel 2. 13. to rent their hearts. And I…. 4. 3, 4. to breake up their fallow ground, and to circumcise and take away the foreskin of their owne hearts. By all which places it appeareth we may our selves do much in this worke, yea that we must be doers in it our selves, or els it will p. 111never be well done. And certainly, if we would do what we might, our hearts would be much softer, and better able to mourne for our sinnes, than they are.

If any of you shall aske me,Quest. Why what can we do, or what should we do to worke our hearts to this godly sorrow?

I answer:Answ. There are foure principall things that we may doe, and that we must do, if we would get broken and humbled hearts. For, 1. We must make choice of a fit time. 2. Of a fit place. 3. When we have so done, we must examine our hearts seriously and impar…ially. 4. We must pray to God for his assistance in this businesse.

First,1. A fit time We must take a fit time to go about this worke. For, though this be but a matter of circumstance, yet have Gods people found much helpe unto spirituall duties even in this. Daniel for his private prayer made choice of the time that God had appointed for the evening sacrifice, Dan. 9. 21. And so did Cornelius, as will appeare if you compare Act. 10. 30. and 31. together. Our blessed Saviour made choice of the evening for this purpose sometimes, Mat. 14. 23. and sometimes of the morning early before day, Mar. 1. 35. And as all our time is not to be spent in mourning; so are there some times and seasons fitter for this purpose, and such as will yeeld us more helpe in this worke, than other-some will do. Eccles. 3. 4. There is a time to weepe, and a time to laugh; a time to mourne, and a time to dance. And it is the wisdome of a Christian, to discerne and take the fittest time for this purpose. Eccles. 8. 5. A wise mans heart discerneth both time and judgement, saith Salomon. p. 112Eph. 5. 15, 16. Walke not as fooles, but as wise men, redeeming the time. The wisdome of a man (you see) consisteth much in the husbanding of his time well, and making choice of the fittest time fore every purpose and action that he takes in hand.

And what times are the fittest (may you say) for this purpose?

I answer, it is profitable for a man every day to be doing somewhat in this worke, by observing his owne wayes, and calling himselfe to an account for them. For,

First, The Apostle tels us we are in danger to be hardned through the deceitfulnesse of sinne if we do not exhort or stirre up our selves daily, Heb. 3. 13.

Secondly, The time of our death is very uncertaine; and such servants (we know) as have great dealings for their master, and looke to be called to a strict account they know not how soone, will looke every day into their accounts, and have them in areadinesse continually. And surely this is our case; we know not how soone our accounts will be called for, Mar. 13. 35, 36. Watch ye therefore (for ye know not when the master of the house will come) least comming suddenly, he find you sleeping.

Thirdly, This would helpe us greatly in our daily prayers unto God. The more sense and sorrow for sinne we have when we pray, the more acceptable certainly would our prayers be unto God. Psal. 34. When David had said Vers. 17. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth them; he tels us Verse 18. what cries and prayers of the righteous they be that the Lord hath such respect unto. The Lord is nigh (saith he) to them that are of a broken heart. If we would strive in p. 113our daily prayers when wee make confession of our sinnes to doe it with feeling, and not formally, it would not onley make our prayers more effectuall with God, but keepe our hearts from hardning, and bring them to a good temper, Luk. 18. 13, 14. When the Publican made confession of his sinnes with that feeling, smiting upon his breast, and saying, God be mercifull to mee a sinner; It is said, …ee went home to his house justified rather then the other.

Fourthly, This daily accustoming our selves unto this worke of calling our selves to account, and afflicting our hearts for our sinnes, would make it more easy and familiar unto us, when we shall have extraordinary occasion to betake our selves to it. That which is said by the Prophet of the Lords chastening of us, may fitly be applyed to this chastening of ourselves, Lam. 3. 27. It is good for a man that he beare the yoke, in his youth; and to have beene accustomed to stoop unto, and to beare patiently the Lords afflicting hand. By this that hath beene said you see it is good for us to be doing somewhat in this worke every day.

Yet are there five speciall times,Five times. and seasons that will yeeld us great helpe in this businesse more then other times will doe.

The first fit time to worke our hearts to godly sorrow, is presently after some fall we have received some grosse sinne we have slipped into. A great advantage it will be unto us, to humble our soules for it presently and without delay.

For first, sinne newly committed may be better knowne, and remembred, with all the circumstances whereby it is aggravated. And that is a great helpe to p. 114the humiliation of the soule, as wee may perceive in Davids speech, Psal. 51. 3. For I ac…nowledge my transgressions, and my si…e is ever before me.

Secondly, The heart will not be so hardned by sinne that is newly committed, but more easily wrought upon, and softned then when sin hath lyen long upon it. As a bone that is out of joint the longer it is neglected, will be set againe with more difficulty and paine. A Leopard may as soone leave his spots, an Ethiopian his blacknesse as he can do his sinne, that hath lyen long in it, Ier. 13. 23.

Secondly, Another fit season for this worke is, when wee prepare our selves to renew our covenant with God in the holy Sacrament.

For 1. at that time God requires of us a speciall care to examine our selves and call to mind our sins, and to judge our selves for them, else it is not possible we should receive worthily, 1 Cor. 11. 28. 29, 31. When thou bringest thy gift to the altar (saith our Saviour, Mat. 5. 23. as at the Lords table we doe offer, and present our selves unto God, our soules, and bodyes as a holy, reasonable, and lively sacrifice unto him) and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee. Teaching us that at that time specially we should remember, and call to mind what our brother and much more what our heavenly father hath against us.

2. At that time men (if they have any spark of grace in them) are apt to find in themselves some stirrings of their affections unto goodnesse, some motions of Gods spirit, some dispositions unto devotion, and remorse for sinne. Ministers that use to deale privately with their people at that time shall p. 115find them more easie to be wrought upon (and so shal every man his own heart) then at other times. These good motions should bee followed without delay. As it is said that they that lay at the poole of Bethesda, stroue to get in so soone as euer the Angell had stirred the water, Iohn 5. 4. And Iosuah so soone as God by a vision had stirred him up to search and find out the sinne that had provoked God against Israel, Iosh. 7. 16. went without delay immediatly about it. So should we doe in this case. When we feele God begins to soften our hearts, and to stirre up these good dispositions to devotion in us, then should wee set our selves seriously to this worke, of calling to mind our sinnes, and bringing our hearts to sorrow for them.

For 1. when God stirs up such motions he knocks at the doore of our hearts, and sheweth himselfe willing to enter in, Rev. 3. 20.

2. Satan will bee ready to quench the spirit in these good motions. As it is said, he watched the infant to devoure it so soone as ever it should be borne, Rev. 12. 4.

Thirdly, The dayes, and times wee set apart for fasting, and prayer (upon whatsoever just occasion) are a most fit season for us, to goe about this work.

For 1. we find Gods people have had their hearts wonderfully softned at such times. The Israelites in the fast that they kept for successe against Benjamin, came into the house of God, and wept, Iudg. 20. 26. And in the fast they kept as Mispeh, they wept so abundantly that they are said, 1 Sam. 7. 6. to have drawne water, as by buckets full, out of their p. 116hearts, and to have poured it out before the Lord.

2. This exercise of a religious fast is a great help, and furtherance to this work. As wee see heere in Davids example, Psal. 35. 13. I humbled my selfe with fasting, & 69. 10. I wept, and chastened my soule with fasting.

Fourthly, When any judgements of God lye heavy upon our selves or our brethren, that is a fit season to goe about this work. When these men were in misery David fell heere to afflicting of his soule, Psal. 35. 13.

For 1. the Lord by every one of his judgements, doth testify from Heaven that he hath matter against us, as Nao…i saith, Ruth 1. 21. Why doe you call mee Naomi, seeing the Lord (by taking away my husband and my children) hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

2. God by his judgements doth call upon us to examine our wayes, and humble our selves before him, Hag. 1. 5, 6, 7. Now therefore saith the Lord of Hosts, co…sider your wayes; yee have sowen much, and brought in li…le, thus saith the Lord of Hosts, consider your wayes. And Esa. 22. 12. In that day did the Lord God of Hosts call to weeping, and to mourning.

3. God by his judgements softneth the hearts of men, and worketh in them more remorse, more pronenesse and aptnes to repent then at other times, Iob 23. 16. God maketh my heart soft (saith Iob) and the Almighty troubleth mee. A man shall find himselfe fitter to pray then, then at other times: and we should take the advantage, and opportunity of this time for it, Iam. 5. 13. Is any afflicted? let him pray. This hath p. 117beene oft seene even in many notable hypocrites, who (how profane soever their hearts have beene at other times yet) in their affliction have found in themselves a disposition to pray, and to repent, Psal. 78. 34. When he slew them then they sought him and returned. And Esa. 26. 16. Lord in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastning was upon them. And we find by experience that at such a time a faithfull Minister may much better worke up. on the hearts of men to bring them to remorse and repentance then at another time. According to that speach of Elihu, Iob 33. 22, 24. When a mans soule draweth neere to the grave; if there bee then a messenger with him, an interpreter, one of a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightnesse, then he is gracious unto him. And so speaketh David …lso, Psal. 94. 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastnest ô Lord, and teachest him out of thy Law.

This is a singular favour of God, when correction, and instruction goe together. And herein wee are bound to acknowledge the great mercy of God to our Land, that (in the time of so generall, and grievous visitation as hath been upon it) he hath put it into the Kings heart, to command so much preaching that thereby the hearts of the people might bee effectually wrought upon, now the Lord hath so by his judgement prepared them. And certainly if in such a time the word doe not work upon mens hearts, it will never doe them good.

Fiftly, and lastly, When wee feele a secret pensivenesse, and sadnesse to come upon our hearts so as they even melt within us like ground that thaweth after a frost, so as we could even weepe abundantly, p. 118this is an excellent season, and opportunity, to bring our hearts unto godly sorrow in.

For 1. sadnesse and heavinesse, maketh the heart more apt to bee wrought to goodnesse, Eccle. 7. 3. Sorrow is better then laughter, for by the sadnesse of the countenance, the heart is made better.

2. This is the way to turne the streame, and current of our sorrow the right way, by making our sin our greatest sorrow (as indeed it ought to bee) because it is the onelyonly just cause of all other our sorrowes, Lam. 3. 39. 40. Wherefore doth a living man complaine? a man for the punishment of his sinnes? Let us search, and try our wayes and turne againe unto the Lord.

And surely (to conclude this first point) in this weApplic. have all cause to acknowledge our owne folly, and to bee humbled for it; and to impute that want of grace, and ability that is in us to mourne for our sins, unto this, that wee have neglected these times, and seasons whereby we might have beene so much helped in this work.

We know the fittest seasons for the plowing, and breaking up of our ground, and we carefully observe them; but we know not, or care not to observe the fittest seasons for the breaking up of the fallow ground of our hearts, which (yet) concerneth us much more then the other doth. Breake up your f…llow ground (saith the Prophet Ier. 4. 3.) and sow not among thornes.

The second thing wee must doe to worke our hearts to godly sorrow is this;2 A fit place. after we have made choise of a fit time to goe about this work, we must also make choise of a fit place for it, even such as p. 119wherein we may be most free from all distractions. For though this also be but a circumstance yet may it yeeld us some help in all exe…cises of devotiō ▪ Christ bids us make choise of a secret place for our private prayer. Mat. 6. 6. And so did he hims…lfe, Mar▪ 1. 35. Hee went out, and departed into a solitary place and there prayed. And Act. 10. 9. Peter went up to the top of the house to pray. So though it be no shame for a man to weepe for his sinnes as we have heard Gods people have done abundantly in their solemne fasts, yet is a solitary, and secret place the fittest to worke our hearts unto godly sorrow, Commune with your own hearts upon your beds (in secret saith David, Psal. 4. 4.) and be still. H…Zechiah turned his face to the wall when he prayed, and wept so sore, Esa. 38. 2, 3. And Ieremiah 13. 17. saith, his soule should weepe in secret. And Z…ch. 12. 12. it is said, they should mourne every family apart, the husband apart, and the wife apart. And Ieremy describing the man that is humbled under Gods hand aright, saith Lam. 3. 28. Hee sitteth alone, and keepeth silence.

Thirdly, When wee have made choise of a fit time, and a fit place also for this businesse, then must we examine our hearts seriously, and impartially. And in this examination two things are to be performed by us.

1. We must labour to find out, and call to mind our sinnes, for which wee should bee humbled.

2. We must lay them to our hearts, and so consider, and weigh with our selves the hainousnesse of them, and aggravate them against our selves, that we may be affected with them.

p. 120For the first, Hee that desires to have his heart humbled, and to bee able to mourne for his sinnes, must labour by diligent search, and examination to finde out his sinnes, and call them to mind, and set them before his face. Bring it againe to mind ô yee transgressours, saith the Lord, Esa. 46. 8. Let not man be affraid or unwilling to doe this. To commit sinne is dangerous, and hurtfull to thy soule, but to call thy sinnes to remembrance hath no danger in it, will doe thee no hurt at all; to have an enemy, or a mortall disease upon thee is dangerous, and hurtfull, but to be aware of them, to know them, when thou hast them, may doe thee much good. Iob knew this well and therefore prayeth earnestly to God to helpe him in this, Iob 13. 23. Make mee to know my transgression, and my sinne.

For 1. till then thou canst never truly mourne for thy sin, and repent of it, Ier. 8. 6. No man repented himselfe of his wickednesse, saying what have I done? To know in generall, and in grosse that thou art a sinner wil never hūble thee aright, thou must know thy sins in particular, or thou canst never truely repent. This was that that humbled Gods people so, in the dayes ofSamuel, 1 Sam. 12. 19. Wee have added to allour other sinnes, this evill, to aske a King. This was that that humbled those 3000. mentioned, Act. 2. 36, 37. and pricked them at the heart, God made knowne to them their sinne in particular, even that hainous sinne of crucifying the Lord of life.

2. It is profitable for us in another respect. For the more carefull we are to remember our sinnes, and call them to mind, the more ready will the Lord bee to forget them, and cast them behind his back. p. 121This is plaine by that prayer David maketh, Psalm. 51. 1, 2, 3. Have mercy upon me ô God, wash me throughly from my iniquity, for I know my transgressions, and my sinne is ever before mee. But if thou strive to forget them, never to thinke of them, to cast them behind thy back, bee thou sure God will remember them, and never have them out of his eye, Thou hast, (saith Moses, Psal. 90. 8.) set our iniquities before thee, our secret sinnes in the light of thy countenance).

But thou wilt say to me.Quest. What sinnes should I call to mind? all? that is an endlesse worke. I know not where to begin, nor where to make an end, Psal. 40. 12. They are more in number (saith David) then the haires of my head. How much more (wilt thou say) are my sins innumerable?

I answer,Answ. 1. 1. The more sinnes thou canst call to mind the better it will be for thee. This we may see, Ezek. 20. 43. where this is promised as a singular grace, God would worke in his peoples hearts. You shall remember your wayes, and all your doings, you have beene defiled and yee shall loath your selves in your owne sight, for all your evils that ye have committed. Therefore also when the Lord prescribeth unto Aaron the course hee should take in making an attonement betweene God and the people, he tels him, Levit. 16. 21. he must confesse over the live goat, all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, in all their sinnes. And therefore it is good when thou goest about this worke to take the helpe of the glasse, set the glasse of Gods Law before thee, and examine thy wayes according unto it. Rom. 3. 20. By the Law commeth the knowledge of sinne.

p. 122Secondly,Answ. 2. take heed thou dost not in thy examination willingly forget or passe by any sinne: Either 1. out of a conceit that it is but small. For Gods curse is due to the smallest, Deut. 27. 26 Nor. 2. out of favour thou bearest to it, and loathnesse to leave it: For if thou regardi niquity in thine heart: the Lord will not regard thee, Psal. 66. 18. and Prov. 28. 13. Hee that hideth his sin, shall not prosper.

Thirdly and l…stly,Ans. 3. Be thou (yet) in this examination of thy selfe specially desirous, and carefull to call to mind, the foulest, and grossest of all thy sinnes that ever thou commiettdst, though it were long agoe. Deut 9. 7. Remember, and forget not how thou provokedst the Lord thy God to wrath in the wi…dernesse. Thus did David in the exercising of him…selfe unto repentance, thinke oft of the sinnes of his youth, Psalm. 25. 7. Remember not the sinnes of my youth, nor my transgressions: So did Paul oft call to mind his foulest sinnes, 1 Tim. 1. 13. I was a blasphemer, and a persecuter. For the heart will sooner bee brought to remorse, and sorrow by remembrance of these then of smaller sinnes; which was the cause why the Publicans, and Harlots those grosse sinners, repented sooner then the civill Pharisees, Matth. 21. 32.

No hard matter for you that have beene adulterers,Applic: blasphemers, persecuters, theeves, oppressours, drunkards, to bring your hearts unto godly sorrow, if you would take but a little paines with them. You that have lived more civilly (as that rich young man had done, that concerning the Commandements of the second Table, could say unto Christ, Matthew 19. 20. All these p. 123things have I kept from my youth up) must take the more paines in this work.

The second thing we must doe in this examination of our selves, is this: When we have found out, and called to mind our sinnes then must wee consider, and weigh with our selves the hainousnesse of them, aggravate them against our selves, and lay them so to heart as we may bee affected, and moved to remorse, and sorrow for them. Men are oft blamed for this, that they laid not their sinnes to their heart, considered not so of them as to bee affected with them, Esay 47. 7. The Caldeans are blamed that they did not lay to their hearts the oppressions they had done to Gods people. And the Iewes, Esay 57. 11. that they laid not to heart their Idolatry.

Now the way to lay them to our heart, is to consider well the hainousnesse of them, and the circumstances whereby they are aggravated. Pa…l did use thus to aggravate his sinnes against himselfe, Ephe. 3. 8. I am lesse then the least of all Saints, 1 Tim. 1. 15. I am the chief of all sinners.

The circumstances whereby sinne is aggravatedSeven aggravations of sinne. are many▪ I will name a few of them.

First, Consider thy sinnes have beene committed against many, and strong meanes of grace. Remember what Christ saith, Matth. 11. 24. to Capernaum because of this, I say unto thee, that it shall bee more tolerable for the land of Sodom, in the day of judgement then for thee. Oh! consider with thy selfe that if the sinnes of Indians, and other barbarous people that never enjoyed any ordinary meanes of grace, shall justly be punished in Hell fire, as p. 124doubtlesse they shall. For as many as have sinned without Law, shall also perish without Law, saith the Apostle, Rom. 2. 12. If the sinnes of Infants doe justly deserve damnation, as certainly they doe. Death hath raigned (saith he, Rom. 5. 14.) even over them that have not sinned after the similitude of Adams transgression, that is not actually. What degree and measure of punishment, and torment thinkest thou, is most justly due to thy sinnes that have beene committed against such meanes of grace as thou hast enjoyed?

Secondly, Thy sinnes have not beene committed upon ignorance but against thy knowledge. And if the elect Iewes were so pricked in heart for the sinne they committed ignorantly, Act. 3. 17. how much more cause hast thou? Remember what Christ saith of this circumstance, Luk. 12. 47. That servant which knew his Lords will and prepared not himselfe, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

Thirdly, How voluntary thou hast sinned, how weake, and light the tentations have often beene that have drawne thee to it, nay how thou hast drawne, and provoked thy selfe to it. And say thou to thine owne heart, If God were so much offended with Ahab though he had so strong a tempter as Iesabel his wife, I Kings 21. 25. Alas what cause hath he to bee offended with mee, that have beene mine owne tempter? Remember what the Holy Ghost speaketh of this circumstance, Esay 33. 1 Woe to thee that spoilest, and wast not spoiled: & 5. 18. Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, & sin as it were with a cart rope.

p. 125Fourthly, The… … …mber of thy sinnes. Say they were in their … so small, yet the number of them, and thy multiplyi…g of them so of…, makes the burden …f them intolerable. Consider how the Lord aggravates sinne by this circumstance, Ier. 5. 6. A Lyon out of the forrest shall slay them, and a Wolfe of the evening… shall spoile them, a Leopard shall watch over their cities, every one that goeth out thence shall be torne in pieces; because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased. See what weight this very circumstance gave unto Davids sinne in the sense of his Conscience, Mine iniquities (saith he, Psal. 40. 12.) are more then the haires of mine head, therefore mine heart faileth mee. The sands though taken severally they be very small, yet many heaped together, will make an intollerable burden, Iob 6. 3. Iob saith his grief was heavier then the sand of the Sea▪ If for one sinne Adam was so terrified that he fled from God, Gen. 3. 8. what cause of terrour have I, maist thou well say to thine owne soule?

Fiftly, How oft thou hast relapsed, and fallen backe againe into the same sin that thy heart hath smitten thee for, and thou hast repented of, and covenanted with God that thou wouldst forsake it, returning with the dogge, to that thou hast loathed, and vomited up, 2 Pet. 2. 22. An arme once broken cannot be cured without paine, but if often, the cure will be more dangerous, and painefull. If thou hadst broken thy promises, and covenants with men thou wouldst count it a matter of infamy and shame unto thee, what cause of shame is it then that thou hast broken thy promises unto God? See also how this p. 126circumstances doth aggravate sinne, Eccle. 5. 4. When thou vowest a vow unto God deferre not to pay it, for hee hath no pleasure in fouls.

Sixtly, How thou hast by thy sinne corrupted others, whereof it may bee some are in Hell already, and some in the way to H…ll, and thou canst not draw them unto repentance? Indeed if thou canst truly repent, this shall not hinder thy salvation that thou hast beene a meane of the damning of others, for so was Paul, Act. 26. 11. Yet must it needs be a heartbreaking to thee, whensoever thou dost seriously thinke of it all the dayes of thy life: and so was it unto Paul, If thou hadst beene the meane to undoe another in his outward estate, much more if thou hadst taken away his life, it would be a just cause of heavinesse to thee, how much more cause of humbling is it that thou hast beene a meane of destroying the soule of any, Matth. 18. 7. Woe to the man by whom the offence cometh, Ier. 6. 28. they are brasse and iron, they are corrupters.

Seventhly, consider the person against whom thou hast sinned, Psal. 51. 4. Against thee, thee onelyonly have I sinned.

And consider the Lord, 1. in his greatnesse, and excellency of power, and justice. If one man sinne against another. (saith Ely to his sonnes, 1 S…m. 2. 25.) the judge shall judge him, but if a man sinne against the Lord, who shall intreat for him?

2. But specially in his goodnesse towards thy selfe. Consider that that God whom thou hast offend…d, thou dost not onelyonly live by, Act. 17. 28. but also hee is of that gracious difposition, that notwithstanding all thy rebellions he would not have thee perish.

p. 127For, 1. he is apt to forgive thee upon thy repen…ance, Esa. 55. 7.

2. He hath proclaimed a generall p…rdon, and not excluded thee, Ioh. 3. 16. but will have it offred unto thee, Mar. 16. 15.

3. Hee se…kes to thee to be reconciled, 2 Cor. 5. 20.

4 He hath done more for thee, hee loves thee with the love of a father (for to such specially I speake) and thou hast received the spirit of adoption, whereby thou art able to cry, Abba father, Rom. 8. 15. Consider well of this and it will have more force to mollifie thy heart, then any thing else in the world.

The sense of our desperate estate, without this may make us roare, and rave, and rage against the Lord, like a wild Bull in a net, as the Prophet speaketh Esay …1. 20. but nothing will humble the heart so kindly, nor make it melt in godly sorrow as the true consideration of this love of God, Psal. 130. 4. there is forgivenesse with thee: that thou mayest bee feared. It was not the crowing of the Cock twice, that made Peters heart melt, but the gracious looke that Christ cast upon him, Luke 22. 61, 62. The Lord turned, and looked upon Peter, then Peter remembred the Word of the Lord, and Peter went out, and wept bitterly. This was that that wrought upon the heart of the prodigall, Luk. 15. 18. I will arise, and goe to my father, and I will say, father I have sinned. And so must thou say to thine owne heart, if ever thou wouldst have it to melt, and thine eyes shed teares for thy si…nes, It is my father, my father that I have so offended. Say to it as Moses doth to the Iewes, Deut. 32. 6. Have I … requited the Lord, O foolish, and ungratious wretch that I am, Is p. 128hee not my father? hath he not made mee, and established mee?

The fourth and last thing we must doe, to bring our hearts unto this godly sorrow, is fervent prayer.

For thou must 1. complaine to God of the hardnes of thy heart, as Esa, 63. 17. O Lord why hast thou hardned my heart from thy feare?

2. Begge this grace of him and cry to him for it. That which the Apostle saith of wisdome, may bee said of this grace also, Iam. 1. 5. If any of you lacke a soft heart, let him aske of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.

3. Challeng him with his promise, and (in a holy reverence) charge him with that covenant mentioned, Ezek. 36. 26. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And Zach. 12. 10. I will poure upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Ierusalem, the spirit of grace, and of supplications, and they shall looke upon mee whom they have pierced, and they shall mourne for him as one that mourneth for his onelyonly sonne, and be in bitternesse for him, as one that is in bitternesse for his first borne.

4. Bee importunate in this suite as one that will take no nay, nor give it over till thou hast obtained it, as David, Psal. 27. 4. and the woman of Canaan, Mat. 15. 27.

5. Waite for an answer, and pray still; limit not the Lord his time, L…ke 18. 1, Wee ought alwayes to pray, and not to faint. Consider how oft the Lord called upon thee before thou didst answer him, and how long hee waited for thee, p. 129Romans 10. 21. All the day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient, and gaine-saying people. Remember that promise, Esay 49. 23. They shall not bee ashamed (or disappointed) that wait for mee.