The Saints Daily Exercise, Sermon 5
THE FIFTH SERMON.
1. TH…S. 5. 17.
Pray continually.
THE next condition required in 3. Condition required in prayer is fervencie. Iames 5. 16.praier is feruency; you know the place, the prayer of the righteous prevailes much, if it bee fervent. The Lord requires this qualification in praier; because it puts the heart into a holy, and spirituall disposition: for it is not simply the making of the request, that God lookes for at our hands, but such a working vponupon our hearts by prayer, such a bringing of them to a good frame of grace, by that duty, that thereby we are more fitted to receiue the mercy, that before we were not. When a man is servent in prayer, it sets all the wheeles of the soule the right way, it puts the heart into a holy, and spirituall disposition, and temper; so that the Lord sees it now fit to bestow merciemercy vponupon such a man that before was vnfit, by reason of his vntowardnesse, and stubbornesse of heart, by reason of that vncleane and vnholy disposition, that he saw in him. And therefore hee will hauehave prayer servent, not so much, because the very fervencie of prayer it selfe i… …espected, but because, by vertue of tha… fe…vencie, the … is made better: when a man comes to God with a request, like the request of the patient to the phisitian; it may be the phisitian denies long, when the patient a …es Simile.things that are pleasant, and agreeable to him; not because he is vnwilling to giu… them, but because his body must bee brought into another temper; he must take a vomi…, o… a purge, that perhaps is grievous to him, but this must be done before he be fit to receiue such cordialls: so the Lord doth with his servants, though bee be willing to bestow such mercies on them, yet, because they are not fitted, hee … continuance in prayer, and fervencie in it. Therefore, we say, in prayer all the graces of Gods spirit are set on work…, and the more servent the prayer is, the more they are intended, the more they are acted, the more they are increased, and therefore the Lord is moved by this fervencie, to bestow a merciemercy on vsus, that otherwise hee would not doe. But, now, al the question i… what thi… fervency is?Obiect.
You shall find it vsually expressed in the Scriptures Answ. When a man is said to be ser vent.by such metaphor… as these, crying to the Lord, wrestling with the Lord, striving with him, and giving him no rest, wherein these two things are to be marked.
First, a man is said then to bee servent, when 1he puts all his strength to prayer, when he is very earnest, and importunate with the Lord, when he strives, and contends with him, though hee finde many difficulties, and impediments, yet he breakes through all, this is to be fervent in prayer, to be Importunate with the Lord. For example, when a man comes to pray, and findes many discouragements, and findes himselfe guilty of many sinnes, and findes little holinesse, he hath but feeble faith to his owne sense, hee findes much deadnesse of spirit, yet hee continues instant notwithstanding, and when likewise hee doth, not onelyonly finde these impediments in himselfe, but he findes the Lord exceeding backward to the thing, either giving no answere, turning the deafe eare to him, or, it may be, giving a contrary answer, as to the woman of Canaan.
As for example, when a man comes to pray for Mat: ….health, it may be, his sicknes increaseth vponupon him more: when he praye… to overcome such a lust or temptation, it may bee, it is doubled vponupon him; when hee prayes for such a deliverance, it may bee, the oppression growes more, and more, as it was vponupon the Israelites, when they sought for deliverance, the oppression grew greater: now to holde out, notwithstanding this, and to continue in prayer, and to … God i… it, though …e see…e backward to the request, this is to be fervent in prayer.
Secondly, fervencie is, not onelyonly loud praying, but continuall knocking, when a men is not onelyonly 2importu…e with the Lord, but …ee continues long, he will not giuegive over, till he hauehave got the ble…ing. You know, … fervency w… seene in that, that he … all night, he wrestled … the Lord. What was the reason that he wrestled? Gen: ….he would not let him goe, till he had got the blessing, till he had obteined the thing he sought for. So, I say, this earnestnesse, and continuance in prayer, the breaking through all difficulties, this is to wrastle with the Lord: for all wrastling, and striving, you know, supposeth some opposition on the other part. Indeed, if there were no opposition, it were a small thing; but, I say, when the Lord is most backward, when the thing is most improbable, when there is much difficultie, that you know not how it should be brought to passe, yet you continue …, and giuegive the Lord no rest, you will not giuegive over, this i… fervency in prayer, and this i… a condition that the Lord requires. OnelyOnly these two … must bee remembred, that wee mistake not this fervencie.Cautio… about fervency.
First, remember, fervencie, if it bee right, it must be a fruit of faith: for there is a fervencie, 1 That it bee a fruit of faith.that co…es not from faith, but from a … feare of …, when a … i… indeede … …wine Simile.that is pin…ed, which, you know, will cry exceeding loud, not because it lookes for helpe, but because it is pinched: so any creature, or man naturally will vse importunity, when he wants any thing, he will be earnest in his requests; such fervencie the Lord regards not, because there is no more but a meere expression of naturall desires, there is no holinesse in it, there is no fire of the spirit, but, when this is added to it, that there is, not onelyonly a sense of the thing we want, but also a hope of merciemercy, a ground to beleeue that I shall hauehave the thing granted, and, out of this ground, I am earnest and importunate; now earnestnesse is a fruit of faith. When Iesus Christ lived vponupon earth, when men came and cryed earnestly vntounto him, and were exceeding importunate, some to be healed of their diseases, some to hauehave devils cast out, &c. we see, his answere was still to them, be it to thee, (how?) not according to their importunity, and fervencie, but according to their faith: as if he should say, I heede not, I regard not all this clamor, and earnestnesse, if they bee onelyonly expressions of such wants, if they be onelyonly in the sense of such neede, and no more; but if they proceede from faith, and that faith set you a worke to call vponupon me, Bee it vntounto th… according to that. For indeede, these two things make vp fervencie in prayer, sense of neede, and hope of merciemercy, when a man hath faith, and hope to increase his fervency; and it ariseth from that ground, as well as out of the other, (not that I exclude the other, for it is a very great helpe, and that which puts sticks on the fire, as it were, to make our fervencie the more) I say from sense of our need, when we consider seriously what want we hauehave, and then adde this hope, and faith, when these two shall set you a worke, this fervencie is a fruite of faith. This is one caution that must be remembred.
Another caution is this, that your fervencie 2 Caution. That it be mingled with sincerity.be ioyned with sinceritie; for a man may be fervent to obt…ine such, and such blessings, as he may begg at …ds hand, very earnestly, hee may as…e credit, he may aske to hauehave guidance in such a businesse, hee may aske wisdome to bring such an enterprise to passe, hee may aske health, and continuance of life, but to what end? if it be that he may bestow it vponupon his lusts, if it be that he may liue more deliciously, that he may be some body more in the world, that he may hauehave outward conveniences, such as his flesh desires, if this be all, here this fervencie is …ot regarded: not, that these things are excluded, for the Lord giues vsus leaue to seeke out owne comforts, and Note.you may be earne…, and …, even for the comfort it selfe, but yet all these, if they be not capable of a further vse, if that be not intended, but the abuse of them, and an intent to vse the… another way, the Lor… …, it is no tr…e fervency: and therefore …. 12. 1…. Rom. 12. …1.it is the exhortation of the Apo…e, be fer… i… spirit serving the Lord: whe… we m…ny … i… may be, are fervent in spirit …ving our sel… we … such a…d … of ends of our owne, as, when a man desires able gifts, high gifts, to get glory, and to get wealth to himselfe, and not to serue his master, this is to aske the talent, not for the masters vse, but for his owne vse: doe you thinke the Lord will heare such prayers? can you expect it at his hands? You shall see t… contrary disposition in the Saints; when they were earnest with the Lord for any thing, sti…l they expresse that to him, and say, Lord, we desire not thi… for our selues, but for thy glorie, that wee may vse it, for some good purpose, &c. David, when he was earnest for life, when he was in sicknesse, and doubted of his recoverie, what argument doth he vse? Lord, saith he, shalt thou hauehave glorie from the graue? As if he should say, if thou giuegive me life, I will giuegive it thee againe, I will improue it, and husband it, to thy advantage, and not to mine owne. And so Hannah, when she was earnest for a sonne, she makes this promise to the Lord, that he shall be for him, and his advantage; shee would dedicate him to his vse, and consecrate him to his service. So Iacob, when hee was earnest with the Lord to giuegive him meate, drinke, and clothes, &c. Lord, saith hee, if thou doe, I will giuegive the tenth part to thee againe. I say, when the heart is thus disposed, in our fervencie, in our importunity, when we aske any thing at the Lords hands, that our conscience tells vsus within, that if wee had it, wee would bestow it vponupon the Lord, we would not abuse it, we would not spend it on our lusts, it should not be to serue our selves, but to serue the Lord withall; then our … is rightly ordered.
The next condition required, is humility, as 4. Condition required in prayer is humilitie. lames 4. 2 Chron: 7. 14.lames 4. The Lord giues grace to the humble: and 2 Chron. 7. 14. If my people humble themselues, and call vponupon my name, then will I heare in heaven, and grant their requests. And throughout the Scriptures, you see, that, that is a condition that the Lord puts in every where: hee hath respect to the low estate, Is… 66. 2. saith the Lord, all these things Isa 66. 2.hauehave my hands made, looking vponupon all the creatures, the whole frame of them, they are al good, and I hauehave respect vntounto them, but, saith he, I regard not all these in comparison of an humble heart, to him will I looke, that is of an humble, and contritespirit; when the Lord lookes vponupon our prayers, if they come not from a broken heart, they want that condition, that he lookes for: for he gives grace to the humble; because such a man is Reasons why humility is required in prayer.little in his owne eyes, and fit to be exalted, fit to receiue a merciemercy at Gods hands.
You know, it is a rule, that the Lord keepes for those that are humble and low, such hee exalts; 1those that exalt themselues he puts downe. Now when a man is little in his owne eyes, that parvity, that sense of his owne vnworthinesse is a prevailing argument with him; and therefore Gen. 32. Iacob vseth that argument, when hee comes to put up that petition, to bee delivered Gen. 32. 10.from Esa…: Lord, I am lesse then all thy merties▪ that is, take any of thy mercies, and put them in one end of the ballance, and p…t me in the other, and I am lesse then it, and … then it, take… the worth that is in me, it is not heavie enough for the least mercio. Now, when hee was thus humbled, and little, and vile in his owne eyes, the Lord bestowed that merciemercy on him, hee was now fit to receiue it. For, David, when the Lord sends him word by Natha…, that he would build him a house for ever, (you see how he expressed 1 Sa… 7.himselfe) hee went into the house of the Lord, and sate before him, and said, Lord, what am I, and what is my fathers house? As if he should say, I was taken out of the dust, I was one of the meanest men of Israel, and a man of no account, of no worth, and yet thou hast had respect vntounto …e, thus far, not onelyonly to make me King over thy people, but to build my Kingdome, and my house, to make me a constant house for ever. I say, this sense of our owne vnworthinesse, it makes vsus more fit to receiue the mercy, to bee exalted by receiving such a request, as wee put vp to the Lord, and therefore hee regards the prayer of the humble.
Moreover, God giues grace to the humble, that is, 2he shewes favour to them, when they come and aske any thing at his hands, because an humble man will be readie to doe whatsoever he will: it is an expression vsed of David, in Acts 2. 22. hee Acts 2. 22.will doe whatsoever I will: that may be said of every humble man, he is exceeding pliable to the Lords will, hee is ready to doe whatsoever hee knowes to be his pleasure, hee resists him in nothing. Now, when a man will doe whatsoever God will, the Lord will be readie to doe whatsoever be will, he will be readie to say to him, as hee did to the …, Oh woman, bee it to thee as Mat. 22.thou wils. When a man, on the other side, refists the Lord, (as every proud man doth saith the text) the Lord resists him the Lord resists the proud and giues grace to the humble. A refisting spirit causeth the Lord to resist our prayers, and therefore it is, that the Lord is ready to the humble man, because he yeelds to the Lord in all things, and when a man yeelds to the Lord, (take that for a rule) in obeying Goas commandements, God Note.will yeeld to vsin granting our petitions.
Besides, when the heart is humbled, and broken, and contrite, it is an acceptable sacrifice to 3the Lord, which winnes it at his hands: he smells a sweete savour from such a sacrifice aboue all other; yea it is that which sets a high price vponupon every sacrifice, that we offer; the best prayers, the best workes, that proceede not from an humble heart, he regards them not: as Psal. 51. Lord, saith he, if … sacrifice, then will not regard it, Psal. 51.but the sacrifices of a contrite, and humble spirit, those thou regardest, and those sactifices that proceede from it; when we come to make a petition to the Lord, (it was the manner in the old law not to come empty handed) a proud person comes empty-handed, but an humble person comes with a sacrifice, and the best sacrifice; because he facrificeth himselfe, and his owne will, that is, he empties himselfe of himselfe, he opens a d…re to the Lord … come, and dwell in him, when a proud man … him out, such a sacrifice the Lord is well pleased with, and such a sacrifice speakes for one, it makes way for his requests, and therefore the Lord hearkens to it.
Lastly, the Lord is ready to heare those that 4.are humble; because, whatsoever they receiue, they take it as of grace, and not as debt: whereas a proud man, a man that hath a good conceit of himselfe, a man that is list vp in his owne opinion, thinkes it to be due, he thinkes there is some correspondence betweene his works, and the wages. You know what is said of the Pharise, that the publican went away instified, rather then he. Why Luke 18.so? Because the Publican thought himselfe worthy of nothing. And therefore Ezek. 36. 31. when Ezck. 36. 31.the Lord promiseth those great mercies to his people, he requires this condition of them, that they should acknowledge themselues worthy to bee destroyed. When a man hath a sense of his owne vnworthinesse, and so comes to the Lord, and askes it as of meere grace and mercy; that is a great motiue to prevaile with him: for he is very carefull of that; you know, in Deut. 8. 11. how Deut. 8. 11.wary the Lord was in giving this rule to them; take beede when thou commest into that good land, thinke not to say with thy selfe, the Lord hath done this for my owne righteousnesse: no, saith hee, I hauehave not done it for that, but for my Covenant which I made with Abraham, Isaac, and laceh, that is, for my owne names sake, for my mercies sake, for the covenant, that I confirmed with them, that is the covenant in Iesus Christ, therefore I hauehave done it, & not for your own righteousnes. So you see, that this is a condition the Lord will hauehave observed in our calling vponupon him, that our hearts be humbled, that a man be little, and vile in his owne eyes, that he come with a broken, and contrite heart, pliable to him in all things, ready to obey him; when the heart is so disposed, hee giues grace, that is, he shewes favour, hee is ready to grant our requests.
The next condition, required in prayer, is that wee sanctifie the Lord in our hearts. You know, 5. Condition required in prayer, is, to sanctifie the Lord in our hearts.when Nadab, and Abih… drew neere vntounto him with a common fire, (when they should hauehave brought such fire as came from heaven, holy fire) the Lord destroyed them, and he giues this reason; for I will be sanctified … that draw …eere to me. When we come to call vponupon the Lord, we know, then we come neere to him, and in such dra…ing neere, … must sanctifie him in our …earts, that is, we must co…ceiue him …o be, as he is, most holy: now, if the Lord be mo… holy, if he that is vncleane and impure, and vnholy shall come neere him, he sanctif not the Lord God, (that is) hee comes not to him as to a mo… holy God, but he lookes vponupon him, … if he were a common person; and therefore whensoever they came to offer a sacrifice, in the old law, they were first purified; if any man were …cleane, and should off… a sacrifice, he was to be cut off from his people. Therefore, to sanctifie the Lord in our hear…, is to come with holy hearts, as in the first of T…. 2. 8. i… is the charge that the Apo… 1 Tim. 2. ….giues the…, … p…re … w… … or doubting; lift vp pure hearts, and innocent hands, without wrath, or doubting.
You will say vntounto me what is this holinesse?Quest.
Beloved, it is nothing but a sequestring, or seperating Answ. Holines what.of any thing from a common vse, and appropriating it to God alone, that is holinesse. You know, whatsoever was holy to the Lord, in the Temple, or otherwise, whether it were holy vessels, or holy men, as the Priests, it was seperated from all other vses, and made particular to him, and to his service. Now, the heart of a man is holy then, when it is withdrawne from all things else, and particular to the Lord alone. As a chast wife is to her husband, whose affections are Simile.bestowed vponupon him, and no other person else; so when the heart is to the Lord alone, when all the affections are intent vponupon him, and bestowed vponupon him, and vponupon none else, this is to hauehave the heart holy to him. So that, now he that will hauehave an eye vponupon credit, vponupon vaine glory, vponupon wealth, vponupon his lusts, vponupon any thing besides the Lord, that the heart is wedded to it, that hee bestowes any part of that coniugall affection vponupon it, that should be wholly the Lords, this man is an vnholy man, his heart is not holy: …or it is not sequestred from other things, and consecrated to him alone: for that is to be holy.
And as the heart must be holy, so must the prayer be holy. When a man prayes to the Lord with respect vntounto him, and hath an eye vponupon him, and nothing else comes in to take away part of this prayer; if by respect, and worldly, and carnall thoughts come in, and set you on work to pray, now, these hauehave a portion, and interest in your prayers, they make your prayers pro…e, and common, they are not peculiar to the Lord, they are vnholy. So that is the holinesse then, in seeking the Lord, when we are knit, and wedded to him, when one takes this resolution to him selfe, I am the Lords servant, and him will I serue, I am not the servant of man, nor of any creature, I am married to the Lord, and his, will I be alone, I will withdraw my heart from all things else. So likewise when a man prayes, so that his soule is intent vponupon the Lord, and vponupon nothing besides, when the whole streame of his affections are carried to him, this is to seeke to him i… holinesse, this is to sanctifie the Lord in our hearts.
And lastly, if there be any conscience of …, (that phrase I finde vsed in Heb. 10) that is, if Heb. 10.there be an evill conscience, if a man be conscious to himselfe, of any sinne, that is vnrepented of, such a man cannot pray, that makes him vnholy; if there be any sinfull lust yet living in him, that is, vnmortified in him, which is not washed away, such a man is vnholy: yea, my Beloved, the Saints themselues, when they sin against God, as you heard heretofore, they are suspended from the covenant: though they be within the covenant, yet they are suspended from receiving the benefit by it, that otherwise they might have: till that sinne be washed away, they are not holy. A priest, or one that was holy, if hee touched any uncleane thing, he remained vnholy, till he was washed, though otherwise he were holy habitualy, vvholy dedicated to Gods service; so it may be with those, that are within the covenant, though thou be a holy …an, yet, if thou touch pitch, that is, if thy heart be polluted with any sinne, of one kinde or other, as long as that remaines, thou art vnholy. If thou come now, and seeke to the Lord, you know wha… the iudgement was in the olde law, such a one was to be cut off from his people. And therefore, you shall finde, this was the constant practise of the Saints; when they sought the Lord for any speciall merciemercy, they began with taking paines with their owne hearts, with humbling themselues for their owne sinnes, and the sinnes of the people: as, we know, Daniel, and Ezra, and Davia, in their prayers, (I neede not stand to giuegive you instances) and indeed so should we alwayes, when we come with any request, and petition to the Lord.
First, let a man examine his heart and his life diligently, looke backe to all his former wayes, consider, and goe through all the particulars; see if there be any thing amisse, if there bee any tincture of vncleannesse yet lying vponupon him, that is not yet washed away, if there be any pollution, any defilement of flesh, or spirit, and let him know that it is but labour lost, it is but a provoking of the Lord, to come as a man vnprepared, to draw neere to him, except hee be cleansed.
But you will say, how shall we be clensed?
I answere, you are clensed by renewing your Ans. 2. Meanes of clensing a mans selfe.repentance, and sprinkling the blood of Christ: when a man humbles himselfe for his sinne, and entreth into covenant with God, not to returne vntounto it, when hee makes his heart perfect, and 1sincere with the Lord in that particular.
And secondly, when he shall w…thall belieue, that it i… forgiven through Christ, when hee is 2sprinkled in his blood to wash …t away▪ though thy sinne be great, yet this will make thee pure, now thou art washed, as it is in the 1 Cor. 6. 9. 1 Cor. 6. 9.Now you are washed, now you are sanctified, now you are iustified: therefore let a man not be d…scouraged in this case: for, I confesse, there is nothing that giues such a checke to our prayers, that giues so many stabb…o them (as it were) that hinders vsus in that duty, as the conscience of sinne, when a man remembers such, and such a sinne he hath committed: yet be not discouraged; for the blood of Iesus Christ is able to wash them away. Though a mans face be very fowle, yet, you know, a basen of cleare water will wash it cleane, and all the filth is gone: now the blood of Christ is more effectuall to rench thy conscience, and to purge it from dead workes, to take away, both the guilt of sinne, and likewise the power, and staine of it. And therefore, if thou hauehave any sinne, labour to be washed from that, that then thou maist come to the Lord, having thy heart sprinkled from an evill conscience, and thy body washed in pure water, as it is Heb. 10. 22. Let vsus draw neere, saith the Apostle, Heb. 10. 22.in assurance of faith: but how? having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience: as if he should say, otherwise your drawing neere vvill be to no purpose, you shall but provoke the Lord in dravving neere, except you bee thus sprinkled, and thus washed, and thus purified.
I, but you will say to me, if this be required, Obiect.who shall be heard in his prayers? for who can say his heart is pure, and his hands are innocent? and if this be required, that we must lift vp holy, and pure hearts, or else we shall not be accepted; what comfort shall we hauehave in calling vponupon the Lord, at any time?
To this I answere, that to hauehave a pure heart, Ans What is i… to hauehave a pure heart.is not to be free from sin, and from da…y failings, (for so indeed none should hauehave a pure heart) but purenesse of heart, holinesse of heart is, to hauehave our hearts sprinkled from …n evill conscience, and to hauehave our bo…tes wash…d with pure water, that is, to be purified before the Lord, is nothing else, but to hauehave such an habituall disposition, which makes a man ready to wash himselfe still, though hee be still spotted with sinne. So that this is, the disposition of a holy man, if a man that drawes neere to the Lord with a pure heart; though hee bee still spotted, and polluted, and defiled, yet hee hath an habituall disposition, hee hath a principle within, hee hath a new nature within, that is still working out that impurity, and washing it away; though still he he…e opposed, and assaulted, & tempted, and sometimes foiled, yet still hee resists it, and fights against it; as the Israelites had a charge never to make peace with Amalek; such a disposition is in such a man, he never makes peace with any sinne; though he be led captiue sometimes by it, yet he yeelds not to that captivity. This is to hauehave a pure heart, though his heart be defiled sometimes, as a vessell will be fowle, yet hee washeth, and renseth his heart, he never suffers it to continue muddy, and vncleane, and in a filthy disposition, but he hath a fountaine, a spring of grace within, that will worke out all impurity, as a spring workes out mudde: he that thus purifies himselfe still, though the fountaine be muddy, though there be many iniections, many temptations, many lusts, and sinnes, yet, if he be purified himselfe, that hee will suffer no sinne to mingle with his heart (as it were) to rest there, and to abide, and dwell there, to lye, and continue there, such a man hath a pure heart. We say that is pure, that is full of it selfe, and will hauehave no heterogenea, no other thing mingled with it, such a thing is pure, as pure oyle is nothing else but oyle. Now hee that hath a pure heart, is not he that hath simply nothing else, that hath no sinne mingled, that hath no drosse mingled with his wine, but hee that suffers it not to rest there; but as oyle and water, when you iumble them together, (as you Simile.know, when they are shaken together, they mingle) yet the oyle workes out, & puifies it selfe, it will not suffer it selfe to abide with the water: a man, that is regenerate, a man that is borne of God, hath a seed remaining in him, though he doe sin, yet, saith the Apostle, he cannot sin, that is, he doth not agree, hee doth not mingle with that sinne, it hath no rest in his heart, but he workes it out, in a passion; when he is shaken (as it were) when he is transported, when he is not himselfe, there may be a mixture, and the fountaine, & the spring may be made muddy, yet let him come to himselfe, still he workes it out; that is to hauehave a pure heart. So that a man thus affected may come with boldnesse to the throne of grace, and not be discouraged; what though thy sinnes be many, and very great, and often repeated? yet, if thou finde in thy selfe such a disposition of purenesse, and holinesse, still to clense thy selfe, though thou be still polluted and defiled, I can assure thee, thy heart is pure, thou maist go with confidence to the throne of grace.
But now you will say this to me, (that may be Obiect.obiected) why? but may not any carnall man say as much, hee sinnes against God, and comes and askes merciemercy, he comes, and cries for forgiuenes, and saith, he will sin no more; and yet he sinnes againe the next day, and addes drunkennesse to thirst; that is, his sinne and his repentance, they runne in a circle, as drunkennes, and thirst? how shall wee distinguish then betweene these two, that purifying disposition in the Saints, and those vanishing purposes, that carnall men may hauehave, that never had experience of the worke of grace, of that purity of heart, that wee speake of.
To this I answer briefly, you shall know the Answ.difference by this, … godly man, when hee falls Difference between the godly and others in falling into sinne.into sinne, and is defiled with it, hee washeth himselfe from day to day; you shall find alwayes this, that he gets ground of the sinne, of the lust, that manifests it selfe in any actuall transgression, still it looseth by it, it gathers not strength, but looseth strength: in a carnall man it is quite contrary, his sinne still increaseth, and intends the habit, and the lust growes stronger and stronger, it gets ground of him, and those good things that he hath, they are more and more worne out, and so they grow worse and worse from day to day, and that is the property of an evill man, of vnregeneracie wheresoever, it is apt to grow worse and worse, and the more fal…s they hauehave, the more sinne gets ground, and the more they lose; but it is not so w…th a holy man, the more hee falls, the more strength he gathers, hee is the more holy by it, the more wary and watchfull, and the more hee is emptied of himselfe, and drawes neerer to the Lord, and is the more inflamed with louelove to him, hee is strengthened in faith, and repentance, and in every grace: so that here the rule now hold… not true, that acts increase habits, but the contrary, acts lessen the habits, which is a paradox i… philosophy, but here it is so.
If you aske how it can be?Quest.
I …, in its owne nature every act intends Answ.… habit, as well in … …odly …, … man, but it comes to passe by accident, as … say, because …he grace in him … stirred vp▪ … those foiles, and slipps, and those falls, and infirmities, to which he is subiect: I say, grace is stirred vp in him more and more, and more, and receiues more vigour, and strength. As we say of true valour, it is increased more by opposition; so it comes to passe, that the more the childe of God falls into sinne, the more grace is intended, Sathan gets lesse ground, as Hez…kiah, when hee fell into pride, the pride of his heart was lessened more by it, then when he shewed his treasure to the Ambassadour of the King of Babell, he knew not before the pride of his heart, that sinne, that fall did manifest his corruption, which hee did not see before. So that, when the heart is sincere, when it is pure, when there is a right principle within▪ grace is set more on worke to resist sinne. So David, when he had numbred the people, that made him more humble, and therefore the Lord shewed him more mercy afterwards, then ever he did before, hee shewed him where the Temple should bee built, and vsed him in that worke, and never shewed him such merciemercy, and kindnesse before. (I cannot stand to expresse particulars) so it is with all the Saints; their hearts are never better, nor in more holy temper, nor more fearefull to offend, and in a more gratious disposition, then after their falls; and therefore consider that, that thou bee not deceived, that thou maist distinguish betweene this falling into sinne, and washing your selues, and that relapse to which evill men are subiect; and keepe that for a rule, that wheresoever there is duplicate page duplicate page true grace, still it stirres it selfe more and more, as it findes more resistance, even as the winde Note.and the water, and the fire doth, you know, the water, when it findes a stop, it growes more vio Simile.lent, and so the winde: of the same nature is grace, where it findes a stop, and findes resistance, it growes more strong, and intent. The heathen had a little glimpse of this truth, when they said of vertue, that it growes more fresh and vigrous by being wounded; that is, true of grace and holinesse, the true vertue, the more it is opposed, the more it growes: even as you see in opposition in the disputes of schollers, and all Simile.kind of contentions in law, or any thing else; the stronger the ob…ection is, where there is ability in the partie, it produceth new notions, and new answers, and puts them more to it; so these assaults, and temptations, when there is truth of heart within, it drawes out more holinesse to God, and more strength, it multiplies the graces of God within: so that the graces receive increase, the more they are exercised, and intended, and sinfull lusts decrease, the minde is more emptied forth; the ch…e that is in v… and the drosse is more wi…nowed out, and the heart is more clensed from it. So much … serue for this, that whosoever will come to the Lord in prayer must sanctifie him in his heart, that is, he must come with a holy, and with a pure heart. We hauehave shewed what this holinesse, and purenesse is, where is it consists, and likewise how the obiection is answered, that might deceiue vsus. So much for that property.
I must adde another, you shall find it Phil. 4. 6 6. Condition required in prayer, is Thankfulnesse Phil. 4. 6.whensoever you come to make your requests to the Lord, this is another condition, that he requires, to be thankfull for the mercies you hauehave received received already: in all things, saith he, let your requests bee made knowne to the Lord, with thanksgiving: as if he should say, take heede of this, that whensoever you come to put vp any petition to the Lord, you forget not the duty of thankfulnesse, but still, when you come to a…ke any thing, that you want, remember, that you giuegive thankes for that you hauehave. Beloved, this condition must not be omitted: you see the Lord himselfe puts it in very carefully, let your requests be made knowne with prayer, and supplication, and with thanksgiving. There is much reason why our petitions, and requests should bee accompanied with thanksgiving to the Lord: for is it not reason when you come to aske somewhat for your selues, that you should doe that also that is acceptable to God? will a man serue himselfe altogether, to come meerely to aske the thing hee wants? this a man man may doe out of louelove to himselfe, out of respect to himselfe; but you must remember to do something that is pl…asing and acceptable to the Lord. And therefore you shall finde in the old law, they were commanded still to come with peace offerings, that is, …fferings, wherein they expressed thankfulnes, whensoever they had any speciall request to the Lord: you shall find that was the manner in Levit. & other places, that such a mā as came to request any thing at the Lords hands, might not come empty ha…ded; and what should he bring with him? a peace offering: what was that? thankfu…nesse for that peace he had enioyed, that was a peace offering: for peace is a generall word comprehending all kinde of mercies. For what is our health, but the peace of our humours within? what is our cheerefulnesse, and ioy, but the peace of conscience within? all the comfort wee hauehave in our name, and …ate, it is peace in the particular, &c, so I say, whensoever thou com…est with a petition, forget not to come with a peace offering, that is, forget not to come with thanksgiving to the Lord, for that which thou hast received: doe somewhat that is acceptable to him, as well as seeke for that which is vsefull for thy selfe. Beloved, there is much reason for it: because, if a man be poring on his wants still, if it be … his mind, when he comes to call vponupon God, it wi… indispose him, for … performance, it will beget murmuring, and low…enesse, and discontent, it will imbitte… his spirit: when as a man remembers many merciemercy…, t…at he hath received, when he makes a c…talogue of them, and innumerates them, it sweeten… … spirit, it makes him more gracious, it acts those graces that are in him, it drawes hi… nearer to the Lord, it quickens him, it makes him more content…d with his condition, that he is in: whereas, o… the other side, forgetfulnesse of mercies, when a man is onelyonly intent vponupon his petition to hauehave the thing done, …e …kes in many times into that … of Simile.disposition, that we finde in children, that, when they cannot hauehave all that they would, they throw away that which they hauehave; so that is our fault many times, when wee come and seeke to the Lord for any thing that we neede, we are so intent vponupon that, that we forget all the mercies we hauehave received, as if they were nothing: the Lord would not hauehave it so, but will hauehave vsus remember what we receiue, that wee may be content to want, that our hea…ts may be brought to pati ence and contentment, vnderunder the crosse, and to want what it sh…ll please him, for a time, to deny vsus, as Iob reasoneth, saith he, I hauehave received good from the Lords hands, it is his answere to his wife, and shall I not receiue …ll; so, if a good man bee thankfull for mercies, it will make him ready to doe so, it will make him content with that present want: for he lookes to that which hee hath had in hand. When a man saith thus with him selfe, thus, and thus much good I hauehave received, at the Lords hands, what though I want such a thing? what though I be prest with such an affliction, and calamitie? I will be content to beare it, I say, the Lord lookes for this, expostulating with him, and murmuring against him, is not a meeke manner of asking things at his hands, but, when a man so askes that, withall he is content to be denied, if his good pleasure bee so. Now, thankfulnesse for merciemercy, makes vsus ready to be so affected, to be willing to be denied, to be content to resigne our selues to the Lord, and therefore he will hauehave thankfulnesse to goe with it, whensoever wee come to aske any thing at his hands. And therefore obserue, that whensoever you come to seeke the Lord, you bee thankefull for the mercies you hauehave had, remember them; for it is a great meanes to prevaile in our requests. Thankfulnesse is, as it were, the insense, that perfumes your petitions, that makes them acceptable, and prevalent with the Lord, so much the sooner. Prayer goes vp without incense, when wee offer vp our petitions without thankfulnesse; because that is a sacrifice, as you know it is called the cal…s of our lips, and ever, when you ioyne thankfulnesse with your petitions, it is like a sacrifice mingled with it, that helpes to prevaile for you.
The next condition is, and it must not be forgotten, of all the rest, that we come to the Lord, 7. Condition required in prayer, is, to come in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ.in the name of Iesus Christ. This is a thing commonly knowne, you will say, who knowes not that, except we come in the name of Christ, no petition can be acceptable? Beloved, I say to you in that case, a… t…e Apostle Iames spea…, Ia…. Iam: 4.4. where hee giues this rule that wee should say, if the Lord will wee will doe such and such a thing to morrow, &c. and when the answere would bee ready, who knowes not this? saith hee, if you know the will of the Lord, and doe it not, your iudgement shall be greater; so I say, if any doe not practise this, (and it is a thing we are exceeding ready to forget, or wee are ready to doe it in a for…ll, and in a …, but to doe it in good …, … ought to doe it, therein commonly wee come short) you know how great a sinne it was, in the olde law, to offer without a Priest; in the 17 of Leviticus it is Levit: 17.said there, if any man brought his sacrifice, though it were the best sacrifice and the choise, yet, saith the text, …f he did not bring it to the priest, and to the Altar, but …ay his sacrifice else where, without a Priest, such a man was guilty of blood, and was to be cut off from his people; that is, hee was to be cut off by the Priest, by excommunication, and after, by the civill Magistrate. You know, it was Vzziahs fault to offer incense, when it was proper to the Priest to doe it? the same sinne wee commit when wee come to the Lord, and thinke, because wee hauehave repented, and prayed fervently, because, wee thinke, our hearts and spirits are in a good disposition, because wee know no sinne, of which wee are conscious, for this cause wee thinke that wee shall bee heard. It is true, the Lord requires these quallifications, in the partie, when hee prayes, but take heede of thinking to bee heard for this, this is to offer without a Priest. You must come thus to the Lord, and say vntounto him, Lord, I confesse (notwithstanding all this) I am vnvnworthy, I hauehave nothing in mee, why thou shouldest regard mee, it cannot bee, that either I, or my prayer should be acceptable, but I beseech thee, take them at the hands of Christ, our High Priest, hee, that is entred into the vaile, he, that takes the prayers of the Saints, and mingles them … when a … can really doe this, wit… dependance vponupon Christ, and come boldly in his name, that is to offer a sacrifice to him, and this we must carefully remember; and therefore we see an excellent expression of this in Levit. 5. where this is made cleare to you, that it is not any excellency in the person, Levit 5. 11.not any fervencie in the prayer, not any purenesse, or holinesse that is found in him, nothing that come… from man, that causeth his prayer to to be acceptable, but it is th… priest, in that place from verse …. to the 11. you shall finde there the law was, that he that came to sacrifice, must bring a sheepe, or a she goate, but if he were not so rich as to doe so, he was able enough to bring two … tle doues; if yet he were not able to doe that, thē, saith the text, hee shall bring the tenth part of an Epha of fine flowre, (a very small thing) and, saith he, let him giuegive this to the priest, and he shall make an attonement for him, and his sin shall be forgiven. Whence I obserue this, that it is not the goodnesse of the sacrifice, the price, nor the …, nor the excellency of that, when they came with a thousand …ammes, …nd so many sheepe, and bullocks, (as you reade of many great sacrifices, that were offered by the Kings) yet the tenth part of an Epha of fine flower, which was exceeding little, this prevailed fully as much; it shewes evidently, that it is not in the sacrifice, but the poorest, and the …, and the meanest sacrifice will prev… with God, as well as the richest, and the greatest. What is the reason? for, saith he, it is the priest, that must offer it, he makes it acceptable; so in this case, let the sacrifice bee never so meane, yet, if it be Christ, that offers the sacrifice, if it be commended to the priest, and he offers it, the Lord will accept it. You shall finde that rule, Levit. 5. 11. He that brings a sacrifice, (this caution was given) he must put no incense Levit. 5. 11.… it, neither oyle. But, should the sacrifice be offered without incense? no, you shall finde in Levit. 16. that, alwayes the priest, when hee entred Levit. 16. 12, 13into the holie of holies, hee burnt incense, that the cloud of that incense might cover the Mercy seat: the meaning is this, that when any man comes to offer a prayer to the Lord, he can put no incense to it, the priest onelyonly hee must put in incense, that is, Iesus Christ only must offer the sacrifice, wherein the Lord smells a savour of rest: for the Lord expresseth himselfe in this manner, as if he were disquieted for sinne, and can take no rest; now, when Iesus Christ offers a sacrifice, hee smells a savour of rest; because it comes from him, in whom he is well pleased: so, I say, wee must be carefull, t…at wee remember wee come in the name of Christ.
But, you will say, every man doth so, and how Obiect.shall we know it?
You shall know it by this, if you hauehave boldnesse, and confidence▪ that is an argument that Answ.you looke not vponupon your selues, but vponupon Christ. When a man i… so exce…ding ti…erous, and doubting, and fearefull, that … dares not come to the throne of grace, or, if hee doe, yet hee makes a great question, whether he shall be heard or no, this is too much looking to himselfe, here the high priest is forgotten. If thou come in his name, there is enough to carry th…t out, it will breede boldnesse in thee, it will breede confidence: if thou come in the name of Christ, and offer vp thy prayers through him, it will cause thee, in every petition thou puttest vp, to thinke thy selfe so much beholding to Christ, that thou wilt be ready to say, in thy heart, whensoever any petition is granted thee, I may thanke Iesus Christ for this. When a man, I say, shall bee so much put vponupon his score, it will make him so much indebted to the Lord Iesus for his sinne that is remitted, and this petition that he hath granted, that his heart shall be more inlarged to thankfulnesse, when he is able to consider the benefit of redemption, and is ready to say with himselfe, if Iesus Christ had not died, if I had not had such an high Priest, that hath entred into the very heavens, as the Apostle saith Hebr. 9. 1… make Heb: 9.intercession for mee, I had lost this benefit, I had never come to hauehave put vp a prayer to the Lord, or, if I had, it should not hauehave beene heard.
But, you will say to mee, if wee be heard for Christ, then, though a man be sinful, and though Obiect.hee hauehave none of the precedent conditions, though he hauehave not that holinesse that is required, if the Priest make him acceptable, why may he not hope as well as the most holy man.
I answer briefly, though the Priest giuegive all acceptance Ans.to the sacrifice, and our prayers are accepted through him, yet that is not all, there are two things besides required, that the person, that brings the sacrifice, be cleane; no impure person was to bring a sacrifice: secondly, that the sacrifice be without blemish, he that hath a male, and bring… a female, is cursed: So this is required, that the person be righteous, and that the prayer be servent, such as is indited by the helpe of Gods spirit, that it may be a sacrifice fit for the Lord. But now, that we hauehave from Christ, is this, that though the person bee so, and the prayer thus qualified, and hauehave those forenoted conditions in it, yet it is not acceptable, without the Priest. And therefore this should incourage you, when you consider the glorious God, his holinesse, that great distance betweene him and you, and your selues, on the other side, how vile and sinfull you are, and vnfit to come and put vp your requests to him; now, when you thinke of a Mediator, of an high Priest, who is entred into heaven, who is gone thither, and sits at the right …and of Maiesty, making intercession for you, when you consider there is one high Priest, who is able to prevaile, not like the Priests in the law, but one, that i… ouer the house of God, one that is the very sonne, that is not entred in through the blood of B…lls, and Goates, but with his owne blood; when out of this you shall receiue confide …, and come …eere him with boldnesse, this is to …ake vse of Christ, and to offer sacrifice in hi…. There is no more rem…ining now, but …, when you hauehave considered all the conditions mentioned, and …tted your prayers according to the…, that you b… confide…t, and expect much, that when you hauehave prayed, you may say thus, Lord, I expect now the granting of them, thou canst not now deny them, Lord, I wi…l waite now. And this is our fault, when we hauehave prayed, and the thing comes not presently, wee are readie to giuegive over, we are not willing to waite. Beloved, that is one thing specially to bee remembred, w… must so farre magnify our prayers, we must set a price vponupon them so farre and so esteeme them, and thinke them of that worth, that they will bring the thing to passe. If a man take a …, or a medicine, or an herbe, and vsus… i… … wound, or a disease, once, or twice, or thrice, and, if he see it doth no good, he will …ay it aside, and take another medicine: for, saith he, I hauehave tryed it, and it will doe m… no good; so a … doth with hi… prayers, …e sai…h, I hauehave sought to the Lord, I hauehave prayed for this thing twice, or thrice, and it is not granted …e; and therefore he is ready to lay it aside, as if it were not effectuall, and to take another meanes, this neglect of prayer is not to know the force of the medicine. You must know therefore, of what efficacie prayer is, and trust i…, and not giuegive over (f… it is effectuall …o bring the thing to passe) and not make …, but …ay, and …; it was … … when … and shee sought to the … for a …, shee made …o much … to giuegive … to …, when they should hauehave stayed till the Lord had do… it, his own… way▪ So Rebeccah, there was a promise, and no doubt, Iacob, and shee prayed for the fulfilling of that promise, but she made too much hast, she tooke a wrong way to get the blessing by lying, this was not waiting, but a stepping out to another meanes; because they thought prayer, and dependance vponupon God would not doe it. So Saul would not waite vponupon God, but he would offer sacrifice, this was to make hast. And so it is, when a man is discouraged; David, when the thing was not presently granted, he was ready to giuegive over, and falls to a desperate complaint, saying, one day I shall fall by the hands of Saul. Take heede of this, and when wee offer our prayers thus, learne to know what they are, learne to trust them, and to depend, and waite vponupon God, say certainly, I shall not be denied, the thing shall surely be granted.
So much for this time, and this text▪
FINIS
End of the text · John Preston, The Saints Daily Exercise (1629)