The Saints Daily Exercise, Sermon 3
THE THIRD SERMON.
1. THES. 5. 17.
Pray continually.
NOvv vvee proceede to that vvhichwhich remaines, something more vvee might adde, for the ansvvering of this, for the time of Gods granting our petitions, and for the measure, vvee touched it the last day a little.
For the time, wee are deceived; in that vvee thinke, vvhen God deferrs, he denies; for many times God deferrs for speciall reasons, and yet he grants the request, in the fittest time for vsus, as the phisitian knovveth the fittest time to giuegive the Simile.patient phisick of one kinde or another; and in this wee must yeeld to God; as hee doth all his workes in the fittest time, so he grants our petitions in the fittest time; there is an appointed time for any deliverance to be granted, for any blessing, for any comfort, that wee neede, and hauehave at his hands. Now, if our selues were iudges, wee would hauehave things done for vsus in the most convenient time, we would hauehave the smarting plaister pulled off, before the wound bee healed, whereas it is i… best for vsus to hauehave it kept on: Bel…ved, you shall finde, that God divides betweene Sathan, and vsus, in this case, as we see Rev. 2. 10. Sathan shall cast some of you into prison, and Rev: 2 10.you shall be there for ten dayes: it was not so long as Sathan would hauehave had it, it may be, he would hauehave had it ten and ten too; nor againe, it was not so short, as they would hauehave had it, but God sets downe the time betweene them both, and therefore we must rest vponupon him, and thinke that many times there is great reason, why we should be deferred when wee aske things at his hands, and you shall finde hee deferres for one of these causes, for the most part,
Sometimes, for the tryall of our faith; as, wee see, he deferred to grant to the woman of Canaan, Foure Reasons of Gods deserring to grant our requests.although he did meane to grant her request, yet he deferred long, that hee might put her to the triall; and, you see, shee was no looser by it, but when she held out in her prayers, she had her request granted to the full.
Sometimes, he deferres to grant it, that wee 2may be more humbled: as you know, Paul prayed earnestly, but God tolde him, that he would deferre him, because he needed more humility: so he deferred to grant the request, that the men of Beniamin put vp to him, when the cause was iust, and God intended to helpe them, yet they fell before their enemies twice, though they fa…ed, and prayed, his end was, as we see in the text, that they might be more humbled, that their hearts might be more broken, that they might be more fitted to receiue it.
Againe, sometimes God deferrs, that we might 3bee more able to vse those blessings that hee meanes to bestow vponupon vsus: so hee deferred to raise Ioseph to preferment: so he deferred to bring David to the Kingdome, that those afflictions that they indured might the better fit them to enioy so great prosperity, as he had provided for them afterwards.
And lastly, he deferrs that he might set a higher 4price vponupon his blessings, that hee might inhaunce the price of them; as the fisher drawes Simile.away the bait, that the fish might follow it the more; so God withholds blessings, that we might hauehave a greater edge set vponupon our desires, that we might pray harder for them, that we might prize them more, when wee hauehave obtained them.
Now, as he doth thus for the time, and as we are often deceived in the time, in taking delayes for denialls; so likewise wee are often deceived Concerning the measure, if God giuegive vsus not so much as wee aske.in the measure; many times God grants the things that wee would hauehave, but, because wee hauehave not so large a measure as we expect; therefore we thinke we hauehave not it at all, and that the Lord hath denied vsus our prayers, when indeede he hath not: for a lesser measure, many times, may serue as well as a greater; as God saith to Paul, my grace is sufficient for thee; though the temptation doe abide vponupon vsus, if there be sufficient grace to keepe vsus in a continuall conflict, and warre against it, if there be sufficient grace to obtaine pardon, to vphold, and to comfort vsus in it, it is sufficient, it may bring vsus to heaven, we hauehave a deliverance from it, even when wee seeme not to be delivered; though we hauehave not so full a victory, as we would hauehave, yet that grace may be sufficient.
You shall see this almost in all the things we A lesse measure may serue as well as a greater. Cleared in instances. 1. Wealth. Psal: …. 16.hauehave occasion to request, at Gods hands, that a lesser measure may serue as well as a greater. Take it first in outward things.
A little wealth may serue, as well as great revenues: as in Psal. 38. 16. A little that the righteous hath is as much as great revenues to the wicked; because a little, when God shall fill it with his blessings, it shall serue the turne as well; but, if a man hath great revenues, and God blowes vponupon them, and leaues an emptinesse in them; if a man hauehave great revenues, if he hauehave great outward comforts, yet, if there be an emptinesse, if there be a vanity in them, if they be as the husk, without the graine, as the shell, without the kernell, as they are often; though there be a great bulke, and they seeme very fit to comfort vsus, yet they will doe vsus little good; whereas a little, on the other side, will doe much good: for in this case it is as it was with Manna, those that had little, yet they had sufficient, and those that gathered over, yet they had never a whit …he more, that is, for their vse and comfort; you know, the little, that Daniel had, it nourished, and strengthened him, as much as the great portion of the Kings meat, that others had; and therefore a little, in this kinde, may serue as well as much.
And so likewise, a little grace may be so vsed, 2. Instance in Grace.and improved, that it may inable you to doe much, it may preserue you from sinning against God, as well as a great measure: for the confirmation of this looke to Rev. 3. 8. which is a notable Reu: 3 8.place for this purpose, it is said there to the Church of Philladelphia, thou hast a little strength, they had but a little strength, and yet you see there what that little strength did: thou hast but a little strength, and yet thou hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name: there were but two things for them to doe, to keepe his word, and to be kept from running out to the denial of his name, and other sinnes: now the little strength they had, was sufficient for these ends: so that, we see, hee findes no fault with that Church; other Churches, that had more strength, it may bee, they fell into greater sinne…: but this is a rule which is true, you will finde it true in all observation, Note.through the Scriptures, that, sometimes, those that hauehave great grace, yet they may fall into great sinnes, that they may be subiect to some strong prevailing lust; as David, you know, had great grace, and yet, we see, hee was subiect to great sinnes together with it.
And againe, a man may hauehave but a little grace, and yet that little grace may bee so ordered, and husbanded, and improved, that that little grace may keepe him from sinne, more then the other: this must bee warily vnderstood, not but that Note in what sense this is to be taken.great grace enables a man to doe greater workes, then the other; it enables a man, in the ordinary course, to resist greater temptations, more then lesse grace, but yet, (I say for our comfort, that) though a man hauehave but a little strength, yet, a… it is said there in the same place, Rev. 3. in that Rev: 3.little strength, I hauehave set a doore open to thee, it opened the doore of heaven wide enough, so that no man could shut it.
And as we say for grace, so like wise for gifts, smaller gifts, meaner gifts may serue the turne, 3 Instance in gifts.many times, as well as greater gifts: for, you know, a little finger, a small hand may serue to thread a needle, as well as a greater, and, it may Simile.be, will doe it better; for, in the Church there are varieties of operations, and variety of functions, and meaner gifts may serue for the discharge of some operations, of some services for the Church, as well as greater. And therefore, as there are variety of functions, so there are variety of members, some stronger, some weaker, and the weaker may serue, in some cases, as well as the stronger; a little barke may doe better in a small river, then a greater ship; so a man that Simile.hath but meane gifts may serue meane capacities, as well as greater, and better: and therefore thinke not that things are denied. when the thing is granted, not in such a measure. And lastly, to bee faithfull in a little gift will bring as great a reward, as to be faithfull in greater: thou hast beene faithfull in little, may make a man ruler over much, and may bring a great increase of the talents after. Therefore let not a man be discouraged, if he hauehave not so great a measure as others hauehave: so likewise if a man desire patience, and strength to goe through all variety of conditions, 4 Instance, in crosses, and afflictions.through all the troubles hee meetes with: sometimes the Lord layes a great burthen. vponupon a mans shoulders, and giues him great strength to beare it; sometimes againe he giues but a little Simile.strength, but then hee proportions the burthen to it; and is it not all one, whether the burthen be great, and the strength answerable, or the burthen be lesse, and the strength little? sometimes he takes away calamity, sometimes he layes it vponupon a man, and giues him as much strength as will beare it, and that is as good, as if it were removed; else, what is the meaning of that, you shall hauehave an hundred fold with persecution, but that you shall hauehave so much ioy, and strength in persecution, that it shall be all one as if you wanted it? so we see Heb. 5. 7. when Christ Heb: 5. 7.prayed for deliverance, in that great houre of triall, the text saith, he was heard in the things hee feared, and yet, we see, the cup did not passe from him, because hee was strengthened to beare it, and so it is in this case; and so much shall serue for a full answere to that, that we be not mistaken in iudging our prayers not to be heard when they are heard.
And now, Beloved, what remaines, but that we set out selues to the duty, to doe that we are exhorted vntounto here, namely, to pray continually, that is, to pray very much, to keepe, at least, a Dangers by omitting, or neglecting prayer.constant course in it; for, if we doe neglect it, we doe but …ob God of his mercies, wee take them without his leaue.1
Againe, we are guilty of the sin of vnthankfulnesse: for we ought to giuegive thankes in all things: 2againe, we neglect his worship; for you know prayer is a part of his worship, and the neglect 3of it from day to day, or at any time, when we omit it, is a neglect of that worship, and seruice we owe vntounto him.
Againe, we suffer sin …o lie vnforgiven, which is very dangerous, we depriue our selues o… blessings, 4and bring a curse vponupon our selues, and we 5suffer our hearts to grow hard, and to be distempered: 6for, from our neglect of prayer comes that deadnesse of spirit, that worldly-mindednesse, and vnapt…esse to pray, to heare the word, and …o keepe the sabboth; what else is the reason of it, why those that hauehave bee me forward, and zealous professours, in former times, hauehave lost their light, and are fallen from their place; I say what is the reason of it, when they were sometime servent in spirit serving the Lord? That fire was not kept aliue with the fuell of prayer; and when they declined from that pitch, from that degree of faith, which they had obtained, you shall finde it commonly to arise from remisnesse in this duty: therefore we say to such, repent and amend, and doe your first workes; that is, vse your former diligence, renew that, and that will renew grace, and strength againe: therefore take Benefit of frequency and diligence in prayer. A stock will be laid vp.heede of being negligent, and remisse in this duty. We hauehave great cause to be incouraged to it, for there is not a faithfull prayer that wee make shalbe lost, but they come vp into remembrance; and therefore you must consider with your selues, not onelyonly what you doe for the present, but what stock of prayers you hauehave layed vp; you know a man may hauehave much, in bils, and bonds, as well as in present money; so there is a certaine Simile.stocke of prayer, a certaine treasure layed vp, that shall not be forgotten. The husbandman lookes not onelyonly vponupon the graine that hee hath in his Simile.garner, but he lookes vponupon that which is sowne, though it be out of his hands, yea he reckons that the better of the two; so those prayers that hauehave beene sowed, it may be, many yeares agoe, are such as will bring in a sure increase: therefore let vsus be exhorted to be constant in this duty, to be frequent therein, to continue in it, watching thereto with perseverance.
And now we hauehave dispatched this, wee will come to answere some cases of conscience that fall out in the performance of this duty, which are divers.
First, this is one; what shall a man iudge of Case 1his prayers, when they are accompanied with About wandring thoughts in prayer.wandring thoughts, whether those prayers are such as God wholly refuseth, or what he is to doe in such a case, when he is subiect to wandring thoughts, to vanity of minde, and distemper in the performance of that duty?
To this I answere, that wee must distinguish Ans.of the cause whence these wandring thoughts a rise.
Sometimetimes they arise, not so much from our owne neglect, as from weaknesse, from temptation: 1 The cause of them is weaknesse.and in such a case, God layes them not so much to our charge: as, for example, one that aymes at a marke, and doth his best to hit the Simile.marke, yet, if hee hath a hand, or an arme, that hath the palsey in it, or if one iogg him while he is about it, the fault was not so much in him, it was not want of good will to doe it, nor want of diligence; but, either it is his weaknesse, or it is an impediment cast in by another: so it is in this case, this wandring of minde proceeds from a naturall infirmity, and imbecillity that hangs vponupon the nature of man, which is not so able to keepe it selfe close to such a spirituall businesse; and thy God considers: for he is wise, and kno…es that we are but flesh. When a weake servant goes Simile.about a businesse, though hee doe it not so well as a stronger, yet a man is wise to consider, that the servant is but weake: the Lord considers the naturall weaknesse that we are subiect vntounto; and he deales mercifully with vsus, in such a case: for herein a man is as one that hath a bow in his Simile.hand, but he hath a palsey arme, and therefore he cannot keep it steddy, though he hauehave a min… to doe it.
But the other case is, when he is iogged in his 2. Temptation.shooting by another, that is, when Sathan interrupts him, when he is diligent to hinder him in such a dutie; in this case, God chargeth it not vpō him, and doth not cast vsus off, nor reiect our pray ers, because of that: but, on the other side, when this wandring of minde shall rise from meere negligence, on our part, from profanesse, from 3. Negligencewant of reverence, because we doe not intend holy duties as we ought, we come not to them with that conscionablenesse, with that carefulnesse as we should doe; in this case now, it is a great sinne, this moues the Lord to anger, when we performe the duty in that manner, when we doe not so much as set our selues about it with our strength, but suffer our mindes to wander without any resistance.
Or secondly, when we our selues be the cause 4. Voluntary admitting vaine thoughtsof it by admitting of loose thoughts, by suffering our selues to be worldly minded, by suffering an indisposition to grow vponupon vsus, and not labouring to resist it, and cast it off againe. You know, when an instrument is out of tune, if the lesson Simile.be never so good, that is played vponupon it, yet it is vnpleasant because the instrument is out of tune; and whose fault is that? so, when thou commest to God, and sufferest thy heart to be distempered before and doest not looke to keepe it in order; that i… thy sinno, as well as thy profanes, and neglect in the very time of the performance: and, by this you may …, how to iudge of wandring thoughts in the performance of this duty, and likewise you may see how to prevent Hovv to prevent wandring thoughts in p…ayer.them: the way to prevent them, is to keepe our hearts in tune before, to hauehave them ready, as, the wise man hath his heart at his right hand, that is, he hath it ready when he hath it to vse. When a Simile.man is to vse his horse, he doth not suffer him to runne vp and downe in the pastures wildly, but will hauehave him vnderunder bridle; so we should keepe our hearts in frame, that they may be ready to doe vsus service in such a holy dutie, when wee hauehave neede of them.
Secondly, we must be diligent, when we come to performe the duty, that, though our mindes doe wander, yet we may be ready to recall them presently, to set our selues to it with all diligence: so much for answering of this first case.
The second case is, what a man is to doe, when hee findes a great indisposition to prayer, Case 2 About indisposednesse, and dulnesse, and vnap…nesse to prayer.such a dulnesse, and deadnesse in him, that hee knowes not how to goe about the duty, and hee thinkes, if hee doe it, it were as good bee vndone.
To this I answere briefly, that in all such cases, Answ. 1.a man is bound notwithstanding to performe it, let his heart bee never so much out of temper, let there be never so great a dulnesse, and deadnesse of spirit vponupon him, yet hee is bound to doe it.
But you wil say, why, but I am altogether vnfit.Obiect.
I answere, that a man by setting himselfe vponupon the worke, shall gather a fitnesse, though he were Answ.vnfit at the first: you know, members, that are Simile.benummed, yet by vsing them, they get life, and heate, and come, in the end, to bee nimble enough; so it is with the heart, in this case, when it is benummed, the very vsing of it makes it fit for the duty: You know, wood, though it bee Simile.greene, yet, if it be long blowed, at the length, it will be dry, and take fire; so it is with the heart, a man may be long about getting it on the wing, yet, with much adoe, he may doe it, and therefore he ought to doe this duty in such a case; yea, so much the rather, because there is never more neede of calling vponupon God, then at such a time: for then a man lyes most exposed to temptation, then, if any sinne come, he is ready to bee overtaken with it, he is vnfit for any thing; and therefore, Note.if ever he hauehave neede to call vponupon God it is at that time.
But you will say, it may be, God will not accept it?Obiect.
I answere briefly, if a mans heart be so indisposed, Answ. 2.that, when he hath done all he can, yet hee can get no life, hee can get no heate in the performance of such a duty, yet God may accept that prayer, as well as that which is most servent: And that you may vnderstand this aright, you must take it with this distinction:
This dulnesse, and deadnesse in prayer, it comes from one of these two causes.Causes of dulnesse.
One is, when God withdrawes his owne spirit, 1. Desertion.that is, withdrawes not his spirit altogether; 2. When there is some neglect on our part.(for there may be a helpe, when we perceiue it not), but when hee withdrawes the liuelinesse, and quicknesse of his spirit, and in this case, if wee doe our dutie, if wee doe the best wee can, the Lord doth accept it, though hee hath not vouchsafed such inlargement of our hearts, though hee hauehave not powred out his spirit vponupon vsus, in the performance of the dutie, as at other times, but he giues a secret helpe, that perhaps we feele not, nor perhaps is so great as at other times; yet I say, when it ariseth from his owne withdrawing of that fitnesse, & we are not negligent, but we doe our best, in this case, God accepts the will for the …, as wee hauehave often said to you: that rule alway holds good, when the impediment is such as we cannot remoue, when the dulnesse of spirit is such as it is not in our power to remoue, when wee hauehave vsed our vtmost diligence, in that case it is no hindrance: and therefore it is a great comfort vntounto vsus, that we hauehave vsed our diligence in this duty, when we hauehave vsed our best to quicken our hearts, though it be not done, yet God accepts our prayers, as well as if they were performed in a more liuely and fervent manner.
The next case is what a man is to doe after▪ he hath committed some great sinne, after he hath Case. 3. About praying after a man hath committed some gross… sinne.wounded his conscience, whether then, not withstanding, he must come, & keep his constāt course in prayer, morning, & evening, whether he shall be so bold, as to come into Gods presence afte… he hath so exceedingly offended him.
To this I answere, that a man is bound, (notwithstanding Ans. In this case prayer is not to be neglected.any sinne that he hath committed, be it what it will be) to keepe his course constantly in prayer, and not to omit it, not to keepe off, not to deferre it. And my ground for it is, because this is a duty, it is a charge that God hath layed vponupon all, to pray continually; that is, at the least twice a day, as we shewed before, to keepe a constant course in it: now, it is certaine, our failing in one thing, must not excuse vsus in another. Note.When the dute lyes on vsus, wee hauehave no dispensation to be negligent in it; and therefore we are bound to doe it.
Againe, consider this, that a particular offence doth not offend so much, as if we grow strangers 2. Reas.to God: as if we grow to a generall rebellion against him. As, put the case, a childe commits a great offence against his father, yet, if hee runne Simile.away from his fathers house, and grow a stranger to him, that is more then the particular offence: for a generall rebellion must needs be more then the particular, and to giuegive over calling vponupon God, to breake off that course, to grow a stranger to him, to runne away from his house, and (as it were) to be ready to giuegive over all his ordinances, & a constant course of obedience to him, this is a generall rebellion, & is worse then the particular; yea such carriage, after sin committed, moues God to anger more then the sin it selfe; as, many times, the contemptuous, negligent, rebellious carriage, after an offence, moues a mast…r, a husband, or a parent more, then the particular failing though it were exceeding great.
Besides, consider, when a man commits a great finne, he makes a great gap in his conscience, he Reas. 3.makes a great breach there, and will you hauehave that breach lye open? is not that very dangerous? is not that the way to bring in more …in, and to suffer those good things that are in the heart to steale out? I will giuegive you but one instance for this: You see, St. Peter, when he had committed a great sinne, in denying his master, and forswearing of him too, yet, because he came in presently, and repented, and sought pardon, (as you know hee did) you see, hee was preserved from running into further arrerages: for hee made vp the gappe, hee made vp the breach.
We see, on the other side, when David had committed that sinne with Batb…eba, and did not come vntounto God, as he should hauehave done, to keepe his constant course in sacrificing vntounto him, in repenting, and renewing his repentance, and praying to him, you know, how many sinnes he fell into: and likewise, that was the case of Salomon, you know, to what a height hee grew, by not comming vntounto God, at his first failing: and therefore, I say, there is reason, that wee should doe it, though the sinne bee great, wee ought to come in, and to keepe our course constantly.
But may I not stay till I bee more fitted, till my heart bee more softened, and more humbled?Quest.
Beloved, to st…y in this case is dangero…; for Ans.the heart commonly growes more hard in continuance; the conscience is more tender, immediately after the sinne is committed, then it is afterwards; and when thou stayest for more humility, thou findest lesse; and therefore, while the wound is greene, and when the fire hath taken newly holde, it is then best to quench it, before the wound be festered, before it hath continued long; for the heart will grow worse, and worse, as it is Heb: 3. 12. Take heede that you be not hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne; the Heb: 3 12.meaning is this, when thou committest a sinne, you thinke, if you stay a weeke, or a fortnight, or a monethmonth, you shall come in as well as at the first; no, saith the Apostle, while it is to day, come in, that is, doe it presently, for sinne will deceiue you, it will harden your heart before you bee aware, it will make a distance betweene God, and you, it will take you off from him, it will leade you further on; and therefore take heede, that your hearts bee not hardened through the deceitfulnesse of sinne, that sinne doe not deceiue you, and it will doe it before you thinke of it: and therefore in this case you should doe as you Simile.doe with waters, when waters breake out a little, it is best to stop them presently; if you suffer them, they will make the breach greater, till at length, you be vnable to stop them; so in this case, when you have committed a great sin, come in speedily.
But you will say, what shall a man come into Gods presence, who is most holy, after he hath defiled Obiect.himselfe with some great sinne, is not this an vnreuerent thing?
I answer briefly, it is very true, if thou be bolde Answ.to come into Gods presence with the same d…sposition, wherewith the sinne was committed, with a minde so fashioned, and so framed, in that case thou doest exceedingly provoke him, this is a very high degree of pro…unesse: and therefore, when we say, thou must come in, and keepe a constant course in prayer notwithstanding, the meaning is, you must come in with a disposition turned aside from your sinnes, and brought home to God, with a minde to abhorre that which is evill, and to cleaue to that which is good; there must bee this conversation of the minde to him, thou must not come in with the same disposition, that must be altered. So much shall serue sor the answere to this case.
Another case is whether wee may vse a set Case 4. About a set forme of prayer.forme of prayer? and likewise whether it bee sufficient?
I need not say much to you; for I thinke there is none here that doubt of it, but that a set forme Answ.of prayer may be vsed: you know, Christ prescribed a forme, you know, there were certaine Psalmes that were prayers that were vsed constantly; and therefore there is no doubt but that▪ a set for me may be vsed, wee hauehave that example for it: And in the Church, at all times, in the primatiue times of the Church, and all along to the beginning of the reformed ti…es, to Luther, and Calvins …, …till, in all times, the Church had set formes they vsed, and I know no obiection against it of weight. One maine obiection is this:
That in stinted prayer the spirit is streightned, Obiect.when a man is tyed to a forme, then he shall hauehave his spirit, as it were, bounden, and limited, that he cannot goe beyond that, which is prescribed; and therefore, say they, it is reason a man should be left to more libertie, (as he is in conceived prayers) and not tyed to a strict forme?
To this I answere, even those men, that are against Answ. 1.this, and that vse this reason, they doe the same thing daily in the congregation: for when another prayes, that is a set forme to him, that heares it, I say, it is a forme to him: for put that case, that he that is a hearer, that heares another pray, suppose that his spirit bee more inlarged, it is a straightning to him, hee hath no libertie to goe out: he is bound to keepe his minde intent vponupon it; and therefore, if that were a sufficient reason, that a man might not vse a set forme, because the spirit is streightned, a man should not heare another pray, (though it be a conceived prayer) because, in that case, his spirit is limited, it may be, the hearer hath a larger heart, a great deale, then he that speakes and prayes; so that there is a bounding, and streightning, and a limiting of the spirit. And therefore that reason cannot be good.
Againe, I answere, though the spirit bee limited, at that time, yet he ha…h a libertie, at other Answ. 2.times, to pray as freely a… hee will in private; and there…ore he is not so tied, but, though, at that time, he be, yet it is no generall tie; at another time, or immediately after, he may be as free as he will in secret.
Aga…ne, I answere, it is not a tye, and a restraint of the spirit, because there is a tye of Answ. 3.words; for the largenesse of the heart stands not so muc… in the multitude and variety of expressions, as in the extent of the affection: now then the heart may be very large, for all that; though he be tyed in words, yet there is not a tye vponupon the affection, that may be extended more, in putting vp the same petition, when another mans is more streightened; therefore there i… no tye, and limit vponupon that. And this is enough to satisfie that, that a set for me of prayer must be vsed.
But now, if you aske; whether that be sufficient? whether a man may thinke, if hee hauehave Quest.beene present at publique prayer, (which is a commendable thing to vse it constantly) I say, whether that be sufficient?
My Beloved, this is a matter of some moment, to consider what we ought to doe in this case; Answ. Publick prayer not sufficient.for we may be deceived in it, and I answer plainly, it is not sufficient: a man that i… diligent in publique prayers, that keeps them morning and evening; if he thinkes now hee hath discharged his duty, he is in a very great error: and this is the reason, because they are not sufficient. Indeed, they are to be vsed; for God is worshipped in them, and it is a more publ…que worship; and when God is honoured before many, as a man, Simile.when there are many spectators, more honour is done to him, it is a greater honour; so it is when men ioyne in this worship. And many other reasons there be, but that is not the thing, I am now vponupon, to commend it to you; but, I say, it is not sufficient, although it ought to bee done, 1. Reas.because there are many particular sinnes, which cannot be confessed in publique prayer, there are many particular wants, which in publique prayer you cannot vnfold, and open, and expresse vntounto the Lord.
Againe, the end of a set forme of prayer is to be a helpe for the private, (for the publique it is 2. Reas.another case) a helpe that one may vse that is yet exceeding weake: a childe, that cannot goe, may hauehave such a proppe, but we must not alway bee children, we must not alway vse that helpe.
Besides, we must consider this, that there is no man, that hath any worke of grace in his heart, 3. Reas.but he is inabled in some measure to pray, without a set forme of prayer, hee is able to expresse his desires to God in private, one way, or another: there was never any man, in any extreame want, but he knew how to expresse himselfe, where he had libertie to speake: so it is in this case.
Besides, the spirit of a man hath greater libertie in private; there a man may powre forth 4. Reas.his soule to the Lord, as Ha…a saith, 1 Sam. 1. which 1 Sam. 1.in publique, he cannot doe freely: there are many particular mercies, which he hath cause to be thankfull to God for.
Besides, there is a particular paines that a man is to take with his heart, from day to day, which, …eas. 5.in the publike common petitions, he is not able to doe: for, Beloved, know this, that the prayer, that is required from day to day, is not so much the performance of the dutie, the doing of the taske, but the end is to keepe the heart in order; for, if sinfull lust grow vponupon it, and …, and worldly mindednesse, the end of this duty is to worke them out againe, to renew repentance againe; and, when there is a forgetfulnesse of the covenant, when grace growes weake, when good desires begin to languish, to renew, and recover them, to put fewell to them: and this is not done by the performance of the publ…ke onelyonly; and therefore, I say, though you performe it in your families, and meete in the congregation, you must not thinke that this is enough, you are bound to a private performance of this duty.
Againe, this is another case, what a man is to doe in the private performance of this duty, whether Case 5. About vsing the voice, and about the ge…ture in secret prayer.he be bound alwayes to vse his voice? whether he be bound alwayes to vse such a kinde of gesture?
I answer this briefly, (for there is no great difficulty in these things, and therefore I p…sse them Ans.over) for the gesture in publike, there is more heede to be taken of that; because it is a publike and open worship of God; and therefore in publike the g…ture is alway to be reverent. You know how often it is repeated, (in the olde testament especially) that they bowed downe, and worshipped still, Christ looked vp to heaven, Paul kneeled downe, and the rest with him, and prayed; and many such like expressions you hauehave mentioned in the Scriptures: where you hauehave prayer mentioned in publike, still you shall finde an expression of some reverend gesture, and when we appeare before the Lord in the publike performance of this dutie, especiall care must bee taken hereunto in the private, the case is different; there variety of gestures may be vsed. I doe not see, but all variety of gestures may be vsed; there are many examples for walking, and lying, and sitting; onelyonly this is to be taken heede to, that, even in private, as farre as may be, the gesture be such, as may both expresse the inward reverence in the heart, and of the outward man; but there i… a libertie in that: I thinke this is the best rule in private, that the gesture bee vsed, that doth Note.most quicken, and doth helpe the duty most. Some gesture may bring a dulnesse, and in disposition, when another may quicken the body, and make it more …it for prayer: sometimes lying is inconvenient, and sometimes more convenient; and therefore, in this case, the best rule is, to vse that ge…ure, which quickens most, which helpes most the duty: some gesture may breede a wearinesse in the body, some may breede a dulnesse, some are painfull to the body, all this is a hindrance to the duty, when the change of it may quicken and helpe.
Now for the voice, I say, for that (as for the sture) it is not simply required: for God is a spirit, and he will be worshipped in spirit: men, that Iohn 4. 24.hauehave eares, and bodies, they must hauehave men speak to them, but God, that is a spirit, delights in that, which is like himselfe; and therefore all his eye is vponupon the inward behaviour of the spirit. Besides, the spirit may speake to God, when the voice doth not; as, you know, the Angels speake to God, and they speake one to another. The Schoolemen hauehave great disputes about the speech of Angels, but this they agree in, that one Angel speakes to another after this manner; when any one hath a conceit, in his minde, of any thing, with a will that another should vnderstand it, and that God should vnderstand it, that is enough for the expression of it; so it is with the spirit of a man, when he hath such a petition in his heart, in his minde, and there is a desire in his will, that God should vnderstand that petition; that is an offering it vp to the Lord, it is as true a speaking to the Lord, as when you deliver it by an outward voice: for the spirit agrees with the Angels; as it is a speech, and as they speake one to another, and to the Lord; so doth the spirit of man; though, indeede, the tongue be to be vsed, as it is Iam. 3. 9. there with blesse … God; and therewith should we pray among others, and before others; and speake before others: but when there is any cause to vse the voice, in private, it is this, as farre as it may quicken the heart, (as I said of gesture) and as farre as thereby wee may keepe our thoughts from wandring. If the voice were not vsed, perhaps, thoughts would be subiect to more wandring, and we should not be ready to take notice of them; but they would slip before we are aware; & therfore, when the voice is vsed, it must be to keepe in the thoughts. In some cases, to omit the voice, is more convenient when it may draw any other inconvenience, but that is left to every mans particular case; as … shall finde the vse of it to …inder him, or further him. And so much shall serue for this Case.
FINIS