The Saints Daily Exercise, Sermon 4

The Saints Daily Exercise · Sermon 4

p. 88THE FOVRTH SERMON.

1. THRS. 5. 17.

Pray continually.

ANother case of Conscience (in the businesse of prayer, is) wha… a Case 6 About want of leisure to pray by reason of present businesses to bee speedily dispatched.man is to doe, when hee is in streight of time; by reason of som… w…ighty b…nesse, that requires a … and sudden dispatch, and giues him not the leisure and liberty, that otherwise he might hauehave had?

To this I answer, you shall find, that i… Scriptures, Answ.the prayers of Saints hauehave beene sometimes larger, and sometimes shorter. Our Saviour Christ, you know, sometimes spent a whole p. 89night in prayer; Surely he did not take so much time alwayes, and, no doubt, wee hauehave libertie sometimes to be larger, sometimes shorter, according as our occasions will permit. But yet this you must remember, that though the businesse Note.be great, yet that businesse, that concernes the salvation of ou… soules, and the worship of God, is greater: And therefore, except it bee a true strait, this is still to be preferred; for it is a businesse of greater moment; and therefore you must giuegive a iust weight to your businesse, and not to suffer every small businesse that▪ comes in to thrust out this dutie: for here you keepe not the due proportion, but neglect the greater, and take the lesse.

Besides, doe you not say, when you hauehave great businesse in hand, that a man must hauehave a dining time, and a sleeping time, &c? Why may wee not say as wel…? A man must hauehave a praying time; is it not as necessary? You know what Iob saith▪ you know the course that …e kept in reading the word, (for that is cleerely meant in that place) It was more precious …o him then his appointed food: that is, he had rather omit his vsual… meale…, (for that he meanes by his appointed food) then to omit a constant course in performing those holy duties: Therefore, I say, it ought carefully to be tooke heede of, that we omit it not, except it be a very great streight; if it be, we may be short in it, …od tyes vsus not so exactly: you see therein are not rules set downe in the Scriptures, wherein we are tyed precisely to such an houre, to such p. 90a time, but God, in merciemercy, and in wisedome, hath left it to our liberty: onelyonly, you see, this is the command, Pray continually, doe it exceeding much, at the least, keepe a constant course in it, as wee heard before, but you may bee shorter in it.

Now let these foure Cautions be observed.

First, take heede that this straightning come Cautions about shortnes of prayer in such straits.not from your ill husbandry, that is, from your ill husbanding of time; For, if a man were carefull to redeeme time before, it may be, he neede 1 Caution.not be put to such a strait, as he is at that time, when he is to performe this duty: suppose you hauehave a iourney to goe, that requires so much time, and you must be gone early, you may so husband the time before, that you may get time for your iourney. And for the performance of this duty, and so for other businesse, as I said in the morning, when you should sequester your selues to performe this duty of prayer, take heed that you be good steward of your time, that you husband it well.

And likewise, this is another part of husbanding your time, that you let not that, which is very pretious, goe for things of small moment, for that is ill husbandry. You should redeeme the time, and buy it with the losse of something. You hauehave time to bestow in the waighty businesse of your calling, in things that belong to the good of man, much more should you in this that belongs to the worship of God: And therefore, if it may be, redeeme it with some losse; so p. 91you ought to husband it, otherwise you redeeme not time as you ought. This is the first Caution that ought to be observed, to husband and redeeme the time well.

The second is, if we bee straitned at any time, 2 Caution.recompence it an another time: for if it be not a feigned excuse and pretence, if you be straitned, when you hauehave libertie, you will bee carefull to spend mo…e time in it; by that you shall know your sinceritie in it, that it is true, and that it is not an excuse, and a putting off.

Moreover, another Caution to be observed is, that you take not too much businesse vponupon you: 3 Caution.if you be straitned with businesse, and therefore cannot be so large in the performance of this duty, as otherwise you would, if you take not too much vponupon you, your selues are the cause of it: And therefore, he that takes lesse, he that spends more time in the things that belong to salvation, he hath made the better choise; As Mary made a better choise then Martha, though her imployment were good.

Likewise, as you must not pester your selues with too much businesse, so likewise you must 4 Caution.take care, that your mindes be not too much intent vponupon them; for too much intention of mind vponupon businesse, causeth distraction in prayer, and causeth vsus post over over the dutie, as well as too much businesse: when a mans minde shootes it selfe too farre in businesse, when it is too much occupied about it, when it is too much intent, when the soule cleaues too fast vponupon the busines, p. 92and cannot loose it selfe to the performance of spirituall duties, which require freedome.

The last Caution is, that the strait rise not 5 Caution.from diffidence in God, and confidence in the vse of the meanes; for, it falls out oft times when wee hauehave businesse of moment in hand, there is a turning, and posting from one creature to another, from the vse of one meanes to another, that we cannot get time in prayer, not so much for want of time simply, but because we minde the meanes too much, we intend them too much, we doe not trust God enough with the businesse, if wee did, wee might spend lesse time in them, and more in seeking to him. So much for that case.

Another case of Conscience in this businesse of calling vponupon God is, what a man is to doe Case 7 About vse of the meanes.for the vse of the meanes, for when we are bid to pray and seeke to God, that is the ordinarie question; But may wee not vse the meanes too?

To this I answere, That prayer is so farre from excluding the meanes, that it includes Answ. Reasons why meanes must be vsed.them; for, if the desire be servent, when we desire any things at Gods hands, it will make vsus diligent in the vse of the meanes, to vse a convenient 1diligence; as it will make you earnest in seeking to God, and in putting vp your requests to him: for, if a man shall pray, and bee negligent in the vse of the meanes, I will be bolde to say it, it is but like the desire of the sluggard, that is a languishing, …ting desire: He desires, but p. 93his soule hath nothing; hee desires, but hee putts his hand into his bosome; The desires, which you expresse, when you pray, they are not servent, they are not earnest, if you bee remisse in the vse of the meanes. Hee that desires grace, desires strength, against sinfull lusts, and temptations, and yet is remisse in the vse of the meanes, by which grace should be increased, and strength gained, to resist those corruptions, and temptations; Certainly those desires are but vaine desires.

Besides, it is an an argument that wee trust 2. Reas.not in God, That wee make not accompt of our prayers, except wee bee diligent in the vse of the meanes; therefore wee are farre from excluding them: for, if you seeke to God, and trust to your prayers, and thinke that they will prevaile with him, it will worke this effect, That you will bee carefull to vse such meanes, as God hath ordeined to bring the thing to passe. Even as, if a man seeke to a Phisitian, to such a Phisitian, that hee trust▪ Simile.to, into whose hands hee would put his life; When this Phisitian prescribes such a course, such a dyet, and such a thing to bee taken at such a time, the more hee rests vponupon the Phisitian, the more carefull hee will bee to obserue his prescription, and rules: And so, in this case, the more you rest on God, the more carefull you will be to vse such meanes, as hee hath appointed, when hee hath said, these, and these meanes are to bee vsed. In this p. 94case, I say, it is a signe your prayers are more to purpose, when you are diligent in the vse of them, when you dare not sleight nor neglect them.

Againe, you must consider this, that, when we pray, at anie time, wee doe not pray to hauehave 3. Reas.any thing done without meanes, but we pray to hauehave a blessing vponupon the meanes, but we pray, to hauehave a blessing vponupon the meanes, and, if we pray for a blessing vponupon the meanes, our minde is not that they should bee omitted; for, you see, God doth all things by second causes, he saues us not without our selues, that is, he vseth vsus as instruments, he doth everie thing by men, and by creatures, and by meanes, and the end of our praiers is, not to hauehave them done without meanes, but to hauehave a blessing vponupon them. But that that is chieflie to be observed to cleare this point to you is this; That praier is not the onelie meanes, it is but part of the meanes to bring anie things to passe.

There are two things to effect a businesse, that 4. Reas.is, praier and meanes both: we doe not say praier is the onelie meanes; indeed, then the other were excluded, but since it is but a part, and the other makes vp the totall meanes of bringing any thing to passe, it doth not exclude them, but they may bee both ioyned together, praier, and the vse of the meanes. This is enough to shew that we may vse means, we may pray, & lay our hand on the plowe, wee maie seeke to God, and bee diligent, and as diligent … bodie p. 95else; But now these three Cautions are to bee Cautions about the vse of meanesobserved..

The first is, That, if wee doe vse meanes, wee vse those that are right; for, if you trust God, and 1 Caution.depend vponupon him, you will not step out to anie inordinate meanes, nor vse lawfull meanes in an inordinate manner: If you doe so, it is an argument your praiers are of no value in your owne esteeme, you doe not rest on God; for, if you did, you would not vse other meanes, then hee hath appointed.

Secondly, though you vse the meanes, and 2 Caution.pray both, yet you must so vse the meanes, that your confidence be in your praiers: for it is one thing to vse the meanes, and it is another thing to hauehave confidence in them. And therefore wee say to you in this case, that you must doe as hee Simile.that vseth the light of the Sunne; he so vseth the light, that he hath an eye vponupon the Sunne from whom that light co…nes; for, he knowes, that if the Sunne were set, the light would be gone. Or as he that takes water in a Cesterne, or River, he Simile.so takes it, as that he hath an eye to the fountaine, he knowes if the fountaine were stopped, the River would bee quickly dried vp: So you should thinke with your selues, if I use any meanes, any creature, any instrument to bring things to passe, mine eye must be vponupon God: for all the helpe that we hauehave from the creature, it is but as a beame to the helpe that comes from God himselfe. And therefore you must doe, in this case, as Phisitians are wont to doe, they put many p. 96Simile.ingredients into a thing, but it is one principall ingredient, amongst the rest, that hee makes account will cure the disease: So doe, in this case, make vse, both of the prayer, and of the meanes, yet you must know, that prayer is the principall effecter of the thing, and the principall meanes, it is that, wherein your confidence is to bee: for, indeede, it is God that doth bring every thing to passe: There is no good in the Citty, nor no evill, but he doth it; you know he takes all to himselfe. All the meanes, by which Good, and Ill is conveyed to you, they doe not doe the thing, they are but the v…ls, they are but the Instruments, as the beere, and the wine, wherein the ph…sicke is taken, but it Simile.is the phisicke, the medicine that cures: So all the meanes cannot doe it, it is the helpe, and the power of God, the efficacie, that comes from him, that brings things to passe; therefore, that must bee remembred, vse the meanes, that you vse, with dependance vponupon God, with an eye vponupon him, that your hearts rest not vponupon them: for, if they doe, it is an inordinate vse of them.

Lastly, you must take heede of sticking in any particular meanes; for, if you doe, it is a signe 3 Caution.trust not God, as you ought to doe. It is a fault commonly, we pitch vponupon such a particular way, and we thinke that must doe it, or nothing: Now, if God be trusted to, hee hath more wayes to the wood then one, he hath more meanes to bring a thing to passe then one: And therefore we must leaue it to him, who often doth it best by another p. 97meanes, then we dreamed of. As for example, David had a promise of the Kingdome; Now, when he had the Kingdome of Iudah, yet you know, the Kingdome of Israel stood out: for Ishbosheth had the Kingdome, and Abner was his chiefe Captaine: besides, in his comming into his Kingdome of Iudah, we see how God wrought the businesse, without device, by a meanes, that he never thought of, in that battaile, when Saul was killed, and so many of his sonnes, there was so much way made for him, when himselfe vsed no meanes to bring it to passe. Afterward when the Kingdome of Israel was kept from him, and he had onelyonly Iudah, we see, God caused a division between Ishbosheth, and Abner his chiefe Captain; vponupon that comes Abner, and offers to David the whole Kingdome, but yet he was but a reconciled enemie; and what Abner might hauehave done, he knew not. Therefore, God by his providence, though Ioab sinned in it, caused Abner to bee taken away by Ioab; when this was done, yet Ishbosheth was aliue still; then were there two men set by the providence of God, (though it were a great sinne in them) to take away his head, and so the Kingdome came wholly to David: for, there were but two sonnes, Mephibosheth, that was lame of his seete, and Ishbosheth, that was lame in his minde, a weake man vnable to mannage so great, and weighty a businesse, to purpose: So God brought the businesse to passe by a way, that David thought not off. Therefore, though wee may vse means, yet, after the vse of them, wee p. 98must depend vponupon God, and leaue it to God to take one meanes, or other. We must doe, in this case, as we doe when wee goe to a man, that is very Simile.skilfull to doe a worke for vsus: If we goe to a Carpenter, and tell him we hauehave such a thing to bee done; or, if we goe to those that we call …, that bring water from place to place, we tell him, this is our desire, but how he will worke, and which way he will bring it to passe, we know not, and yet we trust such a one: for, we say, he is an honest man of his word, and if hee hauehave vndertaken it, it is enough. Why will you not trust God, that goes so much beyond vsus, that hath an infinite wisedome, and an infinite power? And therefore we should so vse the meanes, that withall we keep our dependance vponupon him, that we leaue it to him to vse this, or that meanes, as it pleaseth him. For sometimes, it may be, he ta…s away that which we are about, sometimes he leaues vsus partly destitute, and findes… way of his owne, that we might trust to him, and consider his power, and his wisdome, what he is able to doe. So much likewise shall serue for this Case.

Another Case is, what it is to pray in faith? You know that is required. Now there is a common Case 8 About praying in faith, when a man wants a particular promise, that the thing which he asketh shall be granted.errour in this point: for a man may say, if I pray for the salvation of another, I …ue no promise, how can I pray in faith? when a man prayes to bee guided in such a businesse, to hauehave▪ such an enterprise to bee brought to p…sse, to h…ue … from suc… a tro…ble, facts … p. 99nesse, from such a calamity, that he lyes vnderunder, he findes no particular promise, and, for ought he knowes, it shall never be granted: How can hee bee said to pray in faith? for to pray in faith, is to beleeue, that the thing shall bee done.

I answere, that to pray in faith is to goe as farre as the promise goes. Now no particular Answ.man hath any particular promise, that hee shall hauehave such a deliverance, that he shall hauehave such a particular merciemercy granted him; and therefore it is not required to belieue that particular thing should be done.

But you will say; what faith is it then that is Obiect. What faith is, requiredrequired?

I say, it is enough to beleeue that God is a father, that hee is readie to heare, and not Ans.onelyonly that hee is readie to heare, but that hee is readie to doe that which is best for mee, in such a particular: for both are required, that you beleeue him to bee well affected towards you, as a father, as one that tenders your good, and not onelyonly so, but that hee will doe that, in that particular, that shall bee most for his owne glory, and for your good: and, if you doe so, you pray in faith; though, for the particular, you know not, whether it shall be granted, or no. Indeed, if we had a particular promise, as Elias had that it should not raine, &c. in that case, we were bound to beleeue in particular, but not having that, wee are not tyed vntounto it: for the promise is the obiect of faith, and the habit is p. 100not to worke beyond the obiect; for the obiect is the rule, and the limit of the habit; therefore you may pray in faith, when yet you hauehave no ground to belieue, and to thinke, that that particular thing should be granted. For example, if a father pray, that his sonne may hauehave grace wrought in his heart, that his soule may be saved, it may be the Lord will never doe it; or, if one friend pray for another to the same purpose, though the thing be not done, yet the prayer returnes into his bosome, hee is no looser by it, there is a reward belongs to him, for seeking to God in sinceritie, it is his duty, that he should doe so. The like I may say for every particular case. And this incouragement you may hauehave, that there is never any particular prayer put vp, wherein you seeke things, that are not granted, but you mistake in it: for, if you believe thus farre, as I said to you, be sure, that your prayers are accepted, God will doe that, which is best for you, and your prayers shall not be lost. So much also for that.

The last case is, how shall a man know whether Case 9. About a man… knowledge that his prayer is heard.his prayer be heard, or not.

For answere to this we will giuegive you this one rule, (and that is as farre as wee can goe) that those prayers that are made by the …ssistance of Ans.Gods holy spirit, it is certaine, they are alwayes heard. If you finde, that at any time, you neede make no question, but that God heares it, and will doe the thing, observing the Cautions, that we hauehave gives you …ofore, that is, for the p. 101meanes, the manner, the time, and the measure: for it cannot be, but that, when the heart is inlarged by Gods owne spirit, that the prayer is an expression of holy desires, the Lord alwayes heares: that place is cleere for it, Rom. 8. 27. that hee Rom: 8. 27.knowes the meaning of the spirit, that is, hee so knowes it, that he hearkeneth to it, that hee alwayes accepts of it; and therefore, when you come in such a case, at any time, that your hearts are inlarged in a speciall manner: Marke, I say, when your hearts are inlarged in a speciall manner, and that, with holy desires, certainely, then God meanes to grant our requests: he would not send his spirit to be an intercessor in your hearts, if he did not meane to doe it: for, in that case, hee withholds his spirit, hee giues vsus not that inlargement of heart: onelyonly this distinction must be carefully remembred; you may be sometime very earnest, (the Parent may bee very earnest Note.for his childe, as David was for his, And Moses, for ought we see, was earnest to hauehave gone into the land of Canaan, they were things that they desired) and yet that may be an expression of naturall desires.

In that case, a man may bee very earnest, and yet hee cannot build vponupon it, to say, my heart is much inlarged in prayer, and therefore I shall be heard; but take in this, when the heart is inlarged with holy desires, and that in a speciall manner, somewhat more then ordinary, as that, you see, it is the worke of the spirit of God, quickning your heart, opening it wide, strengthening, and p. 102inlarging it, and sh…pening grace, and holinesse in you, in those requests, you put vp to …, in this case, build vponupon it, your prayers are heard from that ground, we hauehave given you, bee knowes the meaning of the Spirit. So much shall serue for those cases of Conscience in this spirituall duty of calling vponupon God.

Now the last thing wee propounded was this. What the qualification is that is required in our Qualifications or conditions required inthat praier that shal be accepted.prayers: for, now we hauehave said so much of prayer, it is a necessary thing, that wee know, what conditions are required, that it may be acceptable.

And the first (wee will commend to you, that 1 Condition That the person be rightwhich is the ground and first in order before all the rest) is, that the person be right. The prayer of the righteous prevailes much, Iames 5. 16.Iames 5, 16Jas 5:16

The ground of it is this, A man must first hauehave Christ, before he can hauehave any thing else, be hath given vsus all things else with Christ. if … hauehave all things else, if we hauehave not him, it is nothing. All the promises, you know, are Yea, … Amen, but it is in him; so that wee must … hauehave him. And besides, the generall Covenant must goe before the particular: for the ground o… all prayer i…this, or that particular promise, but you, … fir… be … the Covenant, you … hauehave the generall Covenant belonging to you, before you can hauehave the particular branches or it; & therfoe a man must be within the Covenant, his person must be first righteous, and be …, & therefore …, in this …, to p. 103thinke thus with himselfe, he hopes his heart is sincere, and his prayer is right, and his ends are good: for, though all this were true, yet if his person be not right, God regards it not. You know, Simile.the blood of a sheep, & the blood of a swine, they are both alike, it may be; the blood of the swine is better then the other; yet the blood of the swine was not to be offered, because it was the blood of a swine. So, in this case, the praier of an vnregenerate man may be as wel framed, for the petitions, for every thing that is required immediately to a praier, but the heart, from whence it comes, the person, from whence it proceeds, that is it that makes the difference, and therefore that must be observed. See the person bee right. And therefore you shall finde Psalme 4. 3. David makes that the ground, why his praier should be heard, Psal, 4, 3saith hee, be yee sure that God hath chosen for himselfe the godly man. And when I call vponupon him, I shall be heard: for that is the ground that hee takes to himselfe, that hee shall be heard, that God hath chosen to himselfe, the godly man. As if he should say, I am of the number; and therefore, you that are my enemies, and thinke to prevaile against me, I feare you not: for I pray to a God that will d…nd me, I am a godly man, and, vponupon that ground I beleeue that my praier is heard: beloved, otherwise, though wee pray, and pray hard, yet out …anes c…y lowder, then our prayers, they …y downe … ▪ prayers, they make a greater noise then the …: that the noise that our … make is like ant noise of a Thunder, p. 104when the noise of our prayers is but like the cr…ckling of thornes, that it cannot be heard for the noise that sin makes in the eares of the Lord. Thus it is, in this case, when we come before God in our sinnes, when a man comes into his presence, in his vnregeneracie.

But this is not all, bee likewise, a man that is within the Convenant, may hauehave a particular sin, (as you heard heretofore) that may intercept his prayers, and that may hinder the blessing So that, that sinne must be removed before his prayers can be heard. It is true, the sonne abides in the house for ever, but yet the sonne may commit such … offence, that his father may vse him as a servant, hee may deny his requests, and refuse them, when hee comes to seeks any thing at his hands. And therefore, there must be a particular reconciliation, a particular repentance, that sinne must be removed, and done away, that stands in the way. And therefore, this Method the Saints hauehave kept in calling upon God: See in Denel, and Eare, all of them. for the most part, when they make any compleat prayer, we see, still they begin with humil…tion, and confession of sinnes. And the reason of it is, that their persons might be cleare, and innocent, that those … might be removed, which would st…d in their way, and likewise, that is a ground of that in the … Tim. …, 8. saith the Apostle there, I will, th… pr…ers b… … Tim. …. 8.made in all places, that you life vp p… … without … and …: The meaning i… this, not onelyonly, that a man be within the Co…, b… p. 105that he be clensed from all particular sinnes, that might cleaue to him, and hang vponupon him. As, for example, when thou wouldest be accepted of God, if there be any particular sin hang on thee, that musty be removed by renewing thy repentance, and besides that, see what the Scripture takes notice of, when a man comes to pray, his heart must be cleansed from pride, (for God resists the proud) his heart must be brought to an humble disposition; likewise it must be cleansed from wrath, hee must list vp pure hands without wrath; this is oft required. Matth. 5. Leaue thine offering, Mat: 5. 23. 24and go and make peace with thy brother. So likewise from vnthankfulnesse; our praiers are not accepted, except we be thankfull for mercies received. The like wee may say of every particular case: we must bee carefull to cleanse our selues from all sinfull lusts, and corrupt affections, that they hauehave not dominion in our hearts; but that we lift vp pure hearts, and innocent hands, and that is the first thing that is required; that the person bee right, that is, not onelie that hee bee within the Covenant, but likewise that those particular sinnes be removed, that may be an impediment to his prayers.

The second thing required is faith; List vp 2 Requisite or condition is faith Iames 1. 5, 6Jas 1:5Jas 1:6pure hands without wrath and doubting. You know that in Iames, Let him aske of God, let him aske in faith and waver not. So that, though praier bee Simile.the key to open Gods treasures, yet faith is the hand, that turnes the key, without which it will doe no good.

p. 106Now the Lord requires faith; partly, for his Why the Lord requireth faith in prayer.owne sake, he would not otherwise be acknow ledged, if you did not trust him, when you come to seeke him, if you did not rest vponupon him. Besides, 1he should loose his glorie: for in this wee glorifie him, when we trust him, and wee dishonour him, when we distrust him; when we come, and seeke to him, and doe not rest vponupon him, we dishonour him.

Besides in regard of vsus hee requires saith, and will not heare vsus without it; because, as it is, 2Iames 1. 6. in the same place, where faith is required, Iames 1: 6.Jas 1:6there is good reason why it is required; for, saith the Apostle there, hee that beleeues not, or bee that wavers, he is like the waue of the Sea: that is, sometimes in his prayer, hee is very earnest as a waue that swells high, sometimes againe, he will be nothing at all; yea, saith the Apostle, hee is not onelyonly vneven in the businesse in praier, sometimes earnest and forward, and sometimes giving over againe, off and on, but such a man is vnstable in all his wayes; for he that trusts in God, will be carefull, not onelyonly in prayer, but to keepe all his wayes right, but hee that trusts him not, wavers in every thing; hee is (it may be) diligent in prayer, he will looke to his wayes for a time, but he rests not vponupon God, he rests vponupon other things; He is like a wave, he is not constant, and therefore faith is required Now, when I say, faith is required, know this, that there is a double faith required in our prayers to God.Atwofold faith required in our prayers.

The one is a faith in the providence of God, the other is a faith in his promise.

p. 107First, I say, faith in the providence, which is a thing of much moment, and we are apt to forget it. We see it cleerely, Psal. 146. Blessed is hee that trusts in the God of Iacob, &c. who made heaven, and Psal: 146. 5. 6.earth, and the sea, who keepes Covenant, and merciemercy for ever; you see faith there required in the providence, he made heaven and earth, and the Sea, is he such a God, who is able to bring any thing to passe; for he made heaven, and earth; and is he not able to doe any thing besides?

Secondly, there must be a faith in the promises, as is expressed in the other words, hee keepeth Covenant for ever. So likewise, to expresse the defect of it: You see when Martha, and Marie came to Christ to raise Lazirus, they believed hee was readie enough to doe it, (there was faith in his willingnesse) but they wanted faith in his providence: for Martha comes to him, & tels him, Lord saith she, he hath beene in the graue foure dayes; as if she had said, surely now it cannot be done, if thou hadst come sooner, it might hauehave beene brought to passe; so she beleeved him to be willing, but there wanted faith in the providence.

Againe, as here faith in the providence was wanting, so, we see, in the leper, there was faith in the providence, (it may be, the other was wanting, but that is not expressed, it is more probable he had both) Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me whole. Here was an evidence of faith in the providence, he acknowledgeth his power, if thou wilt, thou caust make mee whole; but because Christ did answere him, it is likely hee had p. 108faith in the promise too; So, I say, there must be a faith, first, in the providence; secondly, there must be a faith also in the promise of God: you hauehave ground enough for that, you hauehave his sure word for it, he hath said, aske and yee shall hauehave, seeke and you shall finde, knocke, and it shall be opened to you; and whatsoever you aske, if it be according M…t: 7. 7to his will, is shall be done to you So that is the thing we are chiefliy to looke vntounto, to consider this faith in Gods promise; for men are ready to say, I doubt not but God is able, but all the question is, whether he be willing or no: And therefore, if wee will hauehave our prayers strong, and prevalent, we must be carefull to strengthen our faith in his promise: for, as that is strong, so our prayers doe more prevaile with God. It is a matter of much moment, and therefore wee will shew briefly how your faith may be strengthened, and likewise how you may know it.

First, you shall strengthen your faith, if you consider the nature of God. Beloved, this is a How saith may be strengthened in prayer. From Gods Attributes. Which are of two sorts 1 Absolute:great cause why wee beleeve not the promise of God, and his readinesse to helpe vsus in difficult cases; because wee are ignorant of the nature of God, of the Attributes of God, or, at least, we doe not consider them. For example, (that I may open it to you a little, and shew you the way of making vse of the Attributes of God, in calling vponupon him, and strengthning our faith from them) consider, first, the Iustice of God, (I will giuegive you examples, how the Saints hauehave still strengthned their faith from Gods Attributes) David vsed this p. 109Argument, Lord, thou art Iust, I am Innocent; when 1 Iustice:he telleth God of his Iustice, and withall expresseth his owne innocencie, it is a strong Argument. David, you see, vseth it oft, (I neede not to name particulars. Lord reward mee according to mine Innocencie, &c.) thou knowest I am righteous, and mine enemies hauehave done mee thus, and thus much wrong, and thou art Iust: God cannot denie this; for it is a strong argument, that is taken from such an attribute.

So againe, the goodnesse of God; Lord thou art 2 M…yfull of merciemercy; on the other side, I am full of miserie: and when these are put together, it is a great meanes to strengthen our faith. And therefore, we see, David often expresseth his owne calamitie, his disease, how he was oppressed by enemies, and slandered, &c. and Gods merciemercy, that is the ground of it, God is full of compassion; as if he should say, thou art full of goodnesse, and I am in calamitie, and miserie, at this time, and that was an argument whereby he strengthened his faith.

So againe, another Attribute of God is, his 3 Gloryglory; when we make the Argument thus, Lord, thou hah an eye to thy glorie, and I aime at thy glory: In such a request, it is a strong prevailing argument with him. You know, Moses prevailed with him, when hee sought the saving of the whole people of Israel, Lord, saith hee, thy name will be polluted, what will the Heathen say? and since I aime at thy glory in it, deny me not. And likewise Ezekias, and David, they vse the same Argu…nt p. 110to God, shall the …st praise thee? shall any glory be given thee in the graue▪ shall we be able to doe any thing for thy honour, when we are dead? So that the Arguments that are taken from Gods glorie, and our aime at his glorie, is another meanes to strengthen our faith.

Moreover, the power of God, that is another Attribute, whereby wee may conceiue the same 4. Power.Argument, as before, when wee goe to God, and expresse our weaknesse, and his power; Lord, we are weake, we are able to doe nothing, Lord, thou art almighty, thou madest heaven and earth, it is … strong argument to prevaile with him. So, wee see, Asa prevailed with God, 2 Cron. 14. Oh Lord, 2 Chron: 14. 11saith he, it is all one with thee to helpe with many or few, and we rest vponupon thee: as if hee should say, we are exceeding few, we are exceeding weake, we are able to doe nothing, but thou art able to doe it, with a few, as well as with a great multitude: there he puts them together. And the like we hauehave of Iehosaph…t, Lord, we hauehave no strength, to 2 Chron. 10. 122 Chr 10:12stand before our enemies, but our eyes are to thee. As if he should say, thou hast strength, and power enough, thou art able to doe it, though we are vnable. This is another Argument taken from the power of God.

Againe, the vnchangeable…esse of God. When 5. Vnchangeable…esse.one comes to the Lord, and shall say to him, Lord, thou hast done thus, and thus in former times for thy servants, Lord, thou hast done thus, and t… for me, in another case; and thou art vnchangeable, thou art the same …od: this i… a gre…t p. 111meanes to strengthen our faith: as, you know, it is in your Law suits; when you hauehave a president, it addes strength to the cause, and when we hauehave presidents for this, it will adde strength to vsus, and that strength is taken from Gods vnchangeablenesse: if we put them together, Lord, thou art vnchangeable, Lord, thou hast done it to other men, in the like case, thou hast done it to mee also in the like case, it is a strong argument, and an argument, that David vseth: You see ho… he is stayed by it, Psal. 22. 4. Lord, our fathers trusted in thee, an… were delivered, they Psal. 22. 4.Ps 22:4trust…d in thee, and were not confounded. As if hee should say, Lord, thou art vnchangeable, thou heardest them in the same case, when they trusted in thee; now, it is my case, and therefore I beseech thee to helpe me in my distresse.

Againe, the faithfulnesse of God, the fidelitie of 6. FaithfulnesseGod, that is another of his attributes: and when we make our argument thus, Lord, thou art faithfull, and I trust in thee, it is a strong argument, you know, it is an argument that prevailes much with men. A man is ready to say, hee trusts me, I must not deceiue him: Now the Lord keeps Covenant, and merciemercy for ever. When we come, and vse this to him, Lord, thou art faithfull, thou hast said, thou wilt keep Covenant, and mercy for ever, thou canst not doe otherwise, it is thy nature, thou canst not deny thy selfe, and I rest on thee, I depend on thee, in such a case, it cannot be, that the Lord should faile vsus; I… a man will not faile one that trusts in him, certainly the Lord will p. 112not, and that is an argument that is vsed oft, thou never failest them that trust thee.

Then, besides the absolute attributes of God, consider his relatiue attributes: he is a father, and a Master: it is a strong argument, that is taken from these. If we goe to the Lord, and say, Lord, thou art a father, thou art a Master, thou art a husband, whither should the children goe, but to their father? whither should the wife goe, but to their father? whither should the wife goe, but to her husband? whither should the servants goe, but to their Master, to their Lord? Lord, thou hast commanded vsus to provide for our owne, and he is worse then an Infidel that provides not for his owne. Lord, wee belong to thee, wee are thine. We see, David vseth this Argument, that God hath made him. You hauehave it oft in the Psalmes, that God hath made him, not onelyonly his Creature, but had made him againe, hee was his servant, I am thy Servant, he oft vseth this Relatiue, that God was his God, and that hee was Gods servant, one that did belong to him, and that did depend vponupon him. And surely (my Beloved) dependance, and seeking to God, is a great meanes to winne him to vsus. When wee see an other depend vponupon vsus, one that is our…, that is an effectuall motiue with men: the same is as prevalent with God, and therefore may strengthen our faith. Now, when I say these Arguments prevaile with God, the meaning is indeed, that they prevaile with vsus, they strengthen our faith, they enable vsus to beleeue, that God is readie to p. 113helpe vsus, and, when wee beleeue it, and trust vponupon him, then indeede God is readie to second it; because, then wee are prepared, weo can then put up our desires in the prayer of faith; otherwise, they are put vp with doubting, and that makes them vnacceptable to God, and vneffectuall. And now, as I hauehave shewed you the way, so likewise, in a word, we will shew you, when wee How we may know that we pray in faith.doe pray in faith, (for, that is a thing that is very vsefull) you shall know it by this (for I adde that, because I see the Scripture requires it, as such a maine condition, without which a man cannot be accepted, bee it done to thee according to thy faith, it is every where inculcated) you shall know it by the quietnesse of your minde, and your securitie. When a man calls vponupon God, and his minde is quiet in it, it is a signe that hee beleeues, and trusts in him, it is a prayer of faith. …, you know, in that case, she looked no more sad, because she trusted in God; she believed the thing should be done: and therefore, if you finde solicitude, and perplexitie in your mindes, it is a signe that your prayers want so much faith; for if you did rest vponupon God, you would bee quiet, and secure in him.

Secondly, if you doe beleeue, you will continue 2in prayer. You know, it was an argument of the faith of the woman of Canaan, that she continued, that she would take no deniall; though the Lord denied her, and put her off, yet she held out: and what was the reason of it? because she beleeved that he was the sonne of David, that hee p. 114was mercifull, and that hee would heare in the end. So that continuance in prayer, is an argument we doe beleeue the Lord. As a man that beleeues, that such a man is within the house whom Simile.he desires to speake with, hee is content to waite long. Or one, that hath a suite, and hee knowes that he shall hauehave an end of it, at this time, hee will never giuegive over: So it is in this case, if we beleeue, we will be content to waite, …e t…at beleeues, will … make …ste; because he trusts in God, and depends vponupon him.

Likewise, an argument of faith is a diligent vse of those meanes, that God hath prescribed, and 3no other. And so, wee hauehave shewed you, two things, that are required in prayer: That the person must be righteous, and within the Covenant; Secondly, faith is required, and likewise, how this faith is wrought, both in his providence, and in his promises, and likewise how wee shall know, whether our prayers, be the prayers of faith, or no.

FINIS