Medicines for the Plague, Collection of sermons · Sermon 19
The nineteenth Sermon vponupon the ſixt verſe.
Now know I, that the Lord will helpe his annointed, &c.
I Shall not need to call into your remembrance the doctrine of the laſt day, gathered out of this verſe,Now know I. concerning the aſſurance of being heard, that we ſhould pray in: which is ſo neceſſarie, that without it we cannot pray acceptably to God, comfortably to our ſelues, nor profitably to others. I am now to proceed, and here to conſider of theſe words, where hee ſaith, Now I know: for ſeeing this faith (that God will heare vsus) is ſo requiſit in prayer, it may be demaunded, VVhy he did not begin with it at the firſt, and to ſay in the beginning, I know that God will heare: but that he commeth to it ſo ſlowly, and as it were at the laſt, to ſay, I know. VVhat? did he, the author of the Pſalme, euen Dauid, did he not know it vntill now? that he ſayth, Now I know: did he not know it before this time? VVas all the former part of the prayer with doubting, or without knowledge of this? Or would he hauehave the people whom he taught thus to pray, and left this forme for them, not to hauehave this knowledge, or not to labour for it, till they come to this? Yes vndoubtedly, both himſelfe did know in the beginning, that the Lord did and would heare him, els to what end did he pray? and he would hauehave them euen at the firſt, and before they began or ſpake one word, to beleeue that God would heare them, otherwiſe they could not pray in faith, and ſo neither pleaſe God therein, nor looke for any thing at the hand of the Lord for him. VVhy then doth he himſelfe ſay, and teach thē alſo to ſay, not onelyonly, VVe know, but Now I know that God will helpe? Surely to this end, to ſhew, that as he hath faith in the goodneſſe of God, that hee would heare him indeed, ſo he had it in meaſure, and it encreaſed in him by degrees,By continuing in prayer, our aſſurance of being heard, encreaſeth. as it doth in all other men. Therefore as hee was directed to make this prayer by the ſpirit of God, ſo when he came to this part of it, it did ſpecially ſhew forth it ſelfe in the aſſurance of faith, which hee had thereby, and ſo cauſed him to breake out into theſe wordes, Now know I: becauſe that by continuance in prayer he attained vntounto a greater meaſure of faith and aſſurance than he had at the firſt. And this great affection of the mind in prayer, he was willing to commend vntounto them, to that end, that they might both labour for it, and looke to come vntounto it eueryevery one in their meaſure; namely, that the longer and the more earneſtly they prayed for him, the greater aſſurance they ſhould hauehave by the ſpirit of God, that the Lord did and would heare them. And therefore though they did know at the firſt, that God would heare them according to his will, as hee had promiſed, which promiſes they were not ignorant of: yet by continuing in prayer, or after their prayer, they might looke to be further aſſured of it from God by his holy ſpirit, that was in them.
For the Lord God vſeth thus to worke by his ſpirit in thoſe that be his, that when their hearts are prepared aright to ſerue him,As in all the parts of Gods ſeruice, the longer wee continue in thē, the more doth his ſpirit by them work in vsus. the longer that they continue vnderunder the meanes of their ſaluation, the more effectuall is the operation of his holy ſpirit in them thereby. As for example, in the hearing of the word of God, they are more affected in the middeſt than they were at the beginning, and many times moſt of all in the ending; if they be diligent and attentiue hearers, and not drowſie and careleſſe, and labour to ſtirre vp the ſpirit of God in themſelues. So is it in praying alſo, when they come to it with due preparation of the heart, the children of God doe often find, that though they had ſome good meaſure of faith in Gods promiſes, and feeling of his louelove in the beginning, yet by continuance in prayer, the ſame was greatly enlarged and encreaſed in them: ſo that it was more at the middeſt, than at the firſt; in ſo much, that then they could ſay with greater freedome of the ſpirit, and aſſurance of faith, Now know I indeed, that the Lord will helpe me, and doth heare me from heauen: and in the end they hauehave had more aſſurance: and ſometimes after they hauehave done praying, moſt of all. Thus their faith, knowledge, and aſſurance, that the Lord did hear them, it hath growne by degrees, and encreaſed till it came to the full, when they hauehave prayed feruently. And hereupon it commeth to paſſe, that we find in the Pſalmes, that very often they breake out into ſome ſudden paſsion of ioy, or glorying in the Lord, and as it were boaſting of the goodneſſe of God towards them: as though they had then euen alreadie obtained their deſire: becauſe they felt and found that the Lord did giuegive them ſome good aſſurance of it. As wee ſee how (beſides that which they profeſſe here) in the end of the Pſalme, they vtter theſe words of great confidence, as though the victorie were alreadie gotten, which if it had been, it had beene in vaine to pray for defence againſt enemies: they ſpeake, I ſay, thus confidently, They are brought downe and fallen, but wee are riſen, and stand vpright.
And this is that which wee may obſerue, and moſt clearely ſee, firſt of all in the third Pſalme: where hee beginneth his prayer very vncomfortably,Thus Dauid beginning his prayer ſomewhat doubtfully; endeth with great aſſurance. Pſal. 3.1. and greatly complaineth of the multitude of his aduerſaries, that rebelliouſly were riſen vp againſt him, ſaying, Lord how are mine aduerſaries increaſed? How many riſe against mee. Many ſay to my ſoule, there is no helpe for him in God. Afterwards he confirmeth his faith in the goodneſſe of God by the conſideration of his nature, that he is a defence & buckler to them that are vnarmed and without defence: and he giueth glory to them that hauehave ignominie caſt vponupon them without a cauſe, and he rayſeth vp them that are falling,Verſe 3. ſaying, But thou Lord art a buckler for me, my glory, and the lifter vp of my head, And then he gathereth more ſtrength of faith from former experience,Verſe 4. ſaying, I did call vntounto the Lord with my voyce, and he heard me out of the holy mountaine: and to this he addeth, Shelah, to ſhew how greatly it did affect him, and what comfort he had in this to remember, that God had heard his prayer in former times: and then further addeth for the ſtrengthening of his faith, that the Lord in other great danger had defended him,Verſe 5. ſaying, I laid me downe and ſlept, and roſe vp againe: for the Lord ſustained me. And thereupon inferreth this confident ſpeech,Verſe 6. full of aſſurance: I will not be afraid for ten thouſand of the people that ſhould beſet me round about. VVhere he doth glory by faith, that though his enemies were neuer ſo many, and himſelfe in neuer ſo great danger of them, hee would not bee too much afraid of them, but was aſſured that the Lord would defend him in the middeſt of them. And this aſſurance of Gods defence hee obtaineth now at the laſt, by continuing in prayer, and by thoſe meditations which he had in prayer of the goodneſſe and merciemercy of God towards all his, and now ſpecially towards himſelfe: which he hath ſet down in the former verſes, and part of his prayer. So falleth it out with others, that the ſpirit of God in them, which is the ſpirit of prayer and of all aſſurance, as it ſtirreth them vp to pray; and when they cannot tell of themſelues what or how to pray, as they ought, the ſame ſpirit helpeth their infirmities,Rom. 8.26. and ſtirreth vp in them ſighes and grones, and deſires of the hart, which are acceptable, and which God alloweth of, becauſe they are according to his will: ſo the ſame alſo helpeth their infirmities in this point, that whereas they began to pray in great weakeneſſe and much doubting becauſe of their temptations; by calling into their minds more freſhly than before, the promiſes of God made in his word, and the often performance of the ſame to others & to themſelues; it cauſeth them to grow in faith, & doth giuegive thē ſome greater aſſurance of Gods fauours, and of being gratiouſly heard, than they had in the beginning, & they know then more fully that he doth heare them, and will helpe them.And ſo the ſpirit of God in prayer helpeth the infirmities of the reſt of his ſeruants. Hebr. 12.1. And though this may ſeeme ſtrange to ſuch as are not acquainted with prayer, who vſe it very ſeldome or not at all, and make it but a matter of forme and cuſtome: yet I doubt not, but that we hauehave a great cloud of faithfull witneſſes, who vſing prayer often of conſcience, and in the feeling of their wantes, and making it a dayly exerciſe, and therein deale with the Lord in good earneſt, as thoſe that would obtaine ſome thing at his hand, and reſt not in the bare action of prayer, as in a worke wrought, or a certaine taske performed and done; who doe and are able to ſubſcribe moſt willingly vntounto the truth of this by their owne practiſe. So that as Dauid making this prayer, when his ſonne Abſolom with Achitophell and many others rayſed vp a rebellon againſt him, in which for the ſafegard of his life he was compelled to flie out of Ieruſalem (as appeareth by the title of the Pſalme) did by continuance in feruent prayer, obtaine this aſſurance, That the Lord would defend him, and confound them all, and therefore he would not be afraid of them, if there were ten thouſand of them, and they all ſhould beſet him round about; that is, if he were brought into great ſtraits (as indeed he was:) and truely it came to paſſe in the end, for Achitophell did hang himſelfe, and Abſalom was hanged by the haire of the head. As, I ſay, Dauid then had aſſurance of this before hand: ſo alſo others of Gods ſeruants in their daungers and troubles praying to God feruently, (as he did) hauehave in ſome good meaſure to their owne comfort, and the comfort of others that hauehave prayed with them, obtaitained of God by his ſpirit an aſſurance, that the Lord did heare them, and would be mercifull vntounto them, and they by faith hauehave profeſſed the ſame to others beforehand.
Dauid againe by continuing in feruent prayer, groweth in aſſurance of being heard.And this growing and increaſing in the aſſured hope, That the Lord will heare vsus (whereof we now ſpeak) Dauid againe ſetteth downe by his owne experience in the ſixt Pſalme, (as indeed I muſt needs confeſſe, that he was a man of wonderfull great experience both of his owne infirmitie, and of Gods mercifull dealing towards him:) which Pſalme was made when he was grieuouſly ſicke and like to die, and did not onelyonly feele the hand of God heauie vponupon himſelfe this way (as appeareth by his grieuous complaints and outcries) but he was troubled in his mind for his ſinne: and in this eſtate he prayeth vntounto God, To remoue from him this great token of his wrath and diſpleaſure, that was vponupon him, and to take away this grieuous ſcourge that he was then afflicted with, and to giuegive him both health of bodie and quietneſſe of mind: of both which at the laſt hee obtaineth ſo great aſſurance by faith, through the inward working of Gods ſpirit, that he doth openly glory of it againſt all his enemies, that reioyced at his fall. And for the vnderſtanding of this it is requiſit (eſpecially for the ſimpler ſort, to whoſe capacitie I hauehave eſpecially framed my ſelfe) requiſit, I ſay, to ſet down in order the words of the whole Pſalme; for otherwiſe, neither the great confidence, and reioycing of his faith, which in the end with much ſtriuing he attained vntounto; nor the feruencie of his prayer, which was a meanes whereby Gods ſpirit wrought it in him, can be ſo fully perceiued, or made plaine vntounto you. Thus therfore he beginneth his prayer, O Lord, Pſal. 6.1.rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chaſtiſe me in thy wrath: hauehave merciemercy vponupon me O Lord, for I am needie: heale me, for my bones are vexed: My ſoule is alſo ſore troubled, but Lord how long wilt thou delay? Returne, O Lord, deliuer my ſoule, ſaue me for thy mercies ſake: for in death there is no remembrance of thee, in the graue who ſhall praiſe thee? I fainted in my mourning, I cauſe my bed eueryevery night to ſwim, and water my couch with teares: Mine eyes is dimmed for diſpight, and ſunke in becauſe of all mine enemies. Here we ſee that in theſe ſeuen firſt verſes he complaineth moſt grieuouſly of his owne eſtate, & prayeth moſt feruently vntounto God for deliuerance: and no man can ſay more either to expreſſe the griefe of his mind, or his feruent deſire to hauehave releefe and comfort. See then I pray you in the words following what a great alteration there is made in him of the ſudden, and what a wonderfull great change he findeth in himſelfe: when he ſayth thus. Away from me all ye workers of iniquitie: Verſ. 8.for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my petition, the Lord will receiue my prayers: All mine enemies ſhall be confounded, and ſore vexed: they ſhall be turned backe, and put to ſhame ſuddenly. VVhere he ſheweth what gteat comfort the Lord gaue him at the laſt in this trouble of his, euen that he ſhould be deliuered out of it, when his enemies looked that he ſhould periſh and be ſwallowed vp in it: and he attaineth vntounto ſo great aſſurance of this, that he is not able to containe himſelfe, but againe and againe profeſſeth that the Lord had heard his prayers, and the voyce of his weeping. And not onelyonly that is to be marked, but eſpecially this, that he commeth vntounto this aſſurance, not vntill the end of many long and feruent prayers: and that in the beginning either he had it not at al, or nothing in that meaſure, that there he profeſſeth it: for then no doubt he would hauehave done it ſooner, and not ſo long hauehave fed himſelfe with ſuch grieuous complaints and lamentable outcries, as there hee doth.And ſo may we do: for God giueth it by ordinarie meanes.
So is it poſsible for vsus, in what trouble ſoeuer we ſhall be in, if we pray vntounto God in all humilitie and ſorrow for our ſinnes, as he did, euen with great aboundance of teares (for he ſaith, That he watered his couch, and made his bed to ſwim with them: by which hyperbolicall kind of ſpeech he meaneth, That he wept very much, not only in the day, but euen in the night alſo) and if we did pray with that feruencie that he did, not fainting nor giuing ouer, but ſtretching out our affections and deſires, according to our preſent need; it is poſsible, I ſay, for vsus to attaine by degrees vntounto that meaſure of perſuaſion of Gods goodneſſe towards vsus, that may ſuffice vsus. And though wee come not to that great meaſure that was in this holy man, becauſe we pray not in that feruencie and zeale, and tenderneſſe of heart that hee did, yet in ſome acceptable meaſure, and more than we had in the beginning. For I am not of that opinion, that this was inſpired into him as he was a Prophet, who had many things extraordinarie; neither that any man can come to hauehave any aſſurance or full perſuaſion either of their ſaluation, or that God heareth their prayers, or of any other fauour from him, without ſome reuelation, and ſo it ſhould be thought preſumption in a man to ſay he is aſſured of ſuch things: but that God giueth this aſſurance, and increaſeth it by ordinarie meanes; and namely and eſpecially by prayer. For ſeeing prayer is very fitly compared vntounto wraſtling or ſtriuing (as we hauehave ſeene heretofore) by which we labour with all the power of our ſoules and bodies,A compariſon to ſhew the truth of it. to obtaine ſome thing of the Lord: as by bodily ſtriuing men ſeeke to obtaine ſome maſterie among men: (and thus the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of it to the Romanes,Rom. 15.30. Deſiring them to ſtriue with him by prayers to God for him:) as in ſtriuing, a mans ſtrength is not alwayes greateſt at the firſt, neither can himſelfe or others perceiue ſo well, whether he ſhall ouercome; but ſometimes, yea moſt vſually, when after ſome paines taken his bodie is well heat, he increaſeth in ſtrength of bodie and agilitie of lims: whereby it commeth to paſſe, that he findeth that in himſelfe, which giueth him greater hope of preuailing againſt his aduerſarie, than he had before: So is it when we pray to God, and as it were ſtriue with him; that though wee put all our ſtrength vntounto it at the firſt, that is, pray with all the deſire of our hearts; yet when by continuance in praier, the ſpirit of God in vsus is well heat, as I may ſay, and the heat of it increaſed, we ſhall find that both our deſires are greatly increaſed, & alſo our aſſurance from thence of being heard, is inlarged. So that in the middeſt or ending of our prayers we ſhall perceiue our minds more pacified and quiet, and our ſelues more readie to ſubmit our wils to the will of God, and to reſt in the hope of his defence and deliuerance, than before. VVhereof (if we were asked) though we could giuegive no great reaſon from outward things; for all things are ſtill with vsus, as they were before: yet we find it to be true by experience, and muſt account it a fruit of our prayer, in that the Lord hath giuen vsus greater aſſurance than wee had before, and ſo we are contented to wait vponupon him.
The like may bee ſhewed in many other Pſalmes,Another example of this, in the perſon of Dauid. (as indeed that one booke, as it is full of godly prayers, ſo of notable examples of this kind of the working of the ſpirit of God in his children and ſeruants) but for breuitie ſake I will content my ſelfe with one or two now. In the ſeuenteeth Pſalme he prayeth vntounto God to be preſerued from his enemies, either Saul, or ſome other, (for indeed he had many) and ſaith thus, Heare the right, Pſal. 17.1.O Lord, (that is, my righteous cauſe) conſider my crie, hearken vntounto my prayer of lips vnfained. Let my ſentence come forth from thy preſence, and let thine eyes behold equitie. Thou haſt proued and viſited mine heart in the night, thou haſt tried me and foundest nothing; for I was purpoſed, that my mouth ſhould not offend. Concerning the workes of men, by the words of thy lips, I kept me from the paths of the cruell man. Stay my ſteps in thy path, that my foot doe not ſlide. Then he breaketh out into theſe wordes of comfort,Verſ. 6. I hauehave called vponupon thee, ſurely thou wilt heare me: O God incline thine eare to me, and hearken vntounto my wordes. VVhere after many prayers, and reaſons to mooue the Lord to heare him, as the goodneſſe of his cauſe, the vprightneſſe of his mind, the feruencie of his prayer, and ſuch like: he ſaith, that he did then aſsure himſelfe, that God would heare him, and ſo doth continue his prayer vntounto him in that aſſurance of faith. But it is to be noted for this purpoſe that we hauehave in hand, & for which this is alledged, that though in the beginning he prayed, and then againe returneth to his prayer vntounto the Lord, that hee would heare him, yet he putteth this in betweene, (ſaying, Surely thou wilt heare mee O God) becauſe God gaue him then to beleeue it more fully. VVhichWhich full perſuaſion if he had had before in that meaſure that he had then, we may be aſſured, that he would ſooner hauehave profeſſed it, to the glory of God, and his owne comfort.
A fourth example of it in Dauid.I will conclude this point, with that which is in the eight and thirtie Pſalme: which Pſalme was made, when he was in ſome great diſtreſſe of ſickeneſſe (as ſome think) or ſome other at the leaſt. And the whole Pſalme is full of grieuous complaints as may appeare to them that will but read it, when he beginneth thus: O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger, Pſal. 38.1.neither chastiſe me in thy wrath: for thine arrowes hauehave light vponupon me, and thine hand lieth vponupon me: there is nothing found in my fleſh, becauſe of thine anger, neither is there rest in my bones becauſe of my ſinne, and ſo forth; for the whole Pſalme is too long to be ſet down, yet it is neceſſarie for thē to read it ouer, who deſire to ſee the truth of this that we ſpeak to be in the Prophet. He firſt complaineth of the heauie wrath of God that was vponupon him, and of his ſinnes, which he acknowledgeth to be the cauſe of his puniſhment: of the infirmitie and great weakeneſſe, that he found in himſelfe, both of ſoule and bodie: and of this alſo, that he was forſaken of his friends, and left deſolat: & of the mallice of his wicked enemies, all which made him (as hee ſaith) to poure out his whole deſire before the Lord, ſo that his ſighing was not hid from him.Verſ. 9. And then at the laſt he commeth to hauehave ſome good aſſurance, that the Lord would heare him, and doth openly profeſſe it in theſe words: On thee O Lord doe I wait, Verſ. 15.thou wilt heare me O Lord my God: and ſo from this aſſurance, hee endeth the Pſalme ſomewhat more comfortably than he began it, ſaying, Hast thee to helpe me, O my Lord, Verſ. 22.my ſaluation. Thus we ſee, how by continuing in feruent prayer, and ſtriuing againſt all things within him and without him, that might diſcourage him, the ſpirit of God did ſo encreaſe in him, that hee gat ſome ſmall aſſurance at the leaſt, and more than he had before, that the Lord would heare him: and ſo endeth with a more peaceable and quiet mind than he began. And though I am not ignorant, that ſome of the learned doe read that fifteenth verſe ſomewhat otherwiſe; yet they agree with me in this point, for which it is brought, That in the ſame he profeſſeth his faith, that the Lord would heare him.
All theſe examples doe not onelyonly ſhew vsus the truth of this doctrine, namely, that the ſeruants of God praying vntounto him in their ſeuerall troubles (as this people did here) hauehave by little and little growne in a further aſſurance to their owne comfort and the glorie of God,By this experience in another, we ſee what aſſurāce God may worke in vsus, if we vſe the ſame meanes. that he will heare them: but they ſhew vsus the ſame by great experience, which is the beſt tracts, and able to inſtruct the moſt ſimple: for wee hauehave heard how Dauid oftentimes profeſſeth it of himſelfe; which ſheweth vsus what we may looke for that the Lord ſhould worke in vsus alſo (for there is no reſpect of perſons with him) if we pray in that feeling of our wants, and that humilitie vnderunder the croſſe, and that feruencie vnderunder hope, and that continuance by patience, that he did. Therefore let vsus labour after it, euen that we may find the ſpirit of God ſo working in our hearts by prayer, that it may certainly and comfortably witneſſe to our ſpirits, that the Lord doth heare vsus; and that the ſame teſtimonie of the ſpirit may encreaſe in vsus, aswe encreaſe in praying. And it may come to paſſe, that as in the morning we ſee the Sunne ariſe higher and higher, whereby we hauehave a greater feeling of the heat of it, as the day encreaſeth: ſo we might ſee the ſonne of righteouſneſſe ſo ariſing in our hearts,Malach. 4.2. diſperſing all the myſts of ignorance and vnbeleefe, that we may hauehave the comfortable feeling of the fauour of God in our hearts encreaſing more and more, to cheere them vp with the light and heat of it, as it were, as we ſhall continue longer in prayer. Let vsus labor after it, I ſay, becauſe that few doe know what it doth meane, becauſe they doe not ſo much as once ſeeke and inquire after it.
Obiect. The beſt ſeruants of God complaine that they hauehave no aſſurance that God heareth their prayer.Now if any doe ſeeke this, and cannot find it, and ſo they ſtill complaine, as many of the beſt ſeruants of God hauehave done, that he heareth not their prayers, neither hauehave they any aſſurance of it: for when as in their troubles they pray vntounto God, this grieueth them much, that they hauehave no perſuaſion that God heareth and will helpe them: for if they had this, they could bee contented to wait vponupon him, and to tarry his leiſure; but they pray, and pray, and can hauehave no aſſurance that hee doth heare them. Anſ. And a reaſon of the ſame.To ſatisfie all thoſe, and to ſtrengthen them in this weakneſſe of theirs, we muſt conſider, That they that hauehave had the greateſt aſſurance at any time, that the Lord did heare them, hauehave had it but in time, and in meaſure, and not alwaies alike; but ſometimes more, ſometimes leſſe, and ſometimes not at all: as the ſpirit of faith, or their owne vnbeleefe hath preuailed in them. For in theſe forenamed places we ſee, that in ſome of the Pſalmes hee profeſſeth greater aſſurance, than in other: and ſo is it with all men. Euen as with the eyes of our bodie we ſometimes ſee a thing more clearely than at other times, and our eyeſight is not alwayes alike: no more is our faith whereby wee behold Chriſt, and in him the fauour of God, it is not alwaies in the ſame brightneſſe. Beſides, as the ayre is not alwaies alike for our ſight, but ſometimes more troubleſome and ſouring, yea darke, which hindereth vsus from the ſight of that that we looke vntounto, when our eyes are at the beſt: ſo we hauehave ſometimes in our mind greater and more violent temptations, than at other, as it were thick myſtes or rather darke clouds in the aire to hinder our faith from beholding the cheerefull countenance of the Lord, as it were the light of the Sunne: which ſhineth alwayes alike, though we by reaſon of theſe cannot alwaies ſee it alike. So the Lords louelove is alwaies one and the ſame, but we are not alwaies alike diſpoſed in our ſelues to behold it in that brightneſſe, that it ſhineth in it owne nature. Therefore we muſt not be diſmaied, if we hauehave not alwaies this aſſurance in our prayer after the ſame manner: but ſee what is the cauſe of it, and ſtriue againſt that, that ſo wee may come vntounto it in time, and in that meaſure that the Lord ſhall beſtow it vponupon vsus.
Secondly, we muſt conſider,Another reaſon of it. that this people doth pray very feruently and often for this, That God would heare and helpe their king; before they come to this aſſurance, as appeareth by all the former wordes: when they ſay, The Lord heare thee, the name of God defend thee, ſend thee helpe, and strengthen thee, let him remember thine offerings, and turne thy burnt offerings into aſhes, graunt thee according to thine heart, fulfill all thy purpoſe, &c. VVhere there are many ſhort and earneſt petitions for the ſame thing: which doubling of their words and of their requeſts in ſo great ſhortneſſe, doe ſufficiently ſhew, how feruently they prayed. For wee muſt not thinke, that they vſe vaine babbling, heaping vp a multitude of words without any ſence, feeling, or deſire of the thing anſwerable vntounto the ſame, as it is the manner of hypocrits and heathen to doe, who vſe repetitions, and thinke to be heard for their much babling:Matth. 6.7. againſt whom our Sauiour Chriſt ſpeaketh in the Goſpell. But this prayer being firſt made by Dauid, who had the ſpirit of God; and for the Church, which is ruled by the ſame ſpirit; we may by their words very cleerely diſcerne & ſee their ſpirit that they prayed with, namely, with great earneſtneſſe and feeling: eſpecially when this word Selah, which noteth ſome great affection of the mind, is added: and thus doing, they come to a greater aſſurance at the laſt, I meane by this continuance in feruent prayer. So in all the other Pſalmes of Dauid, which we alledged before, wee ſee that he prayeth not coldly, or in a word: but very earneſtly, often, and long before he profeſſeth this aſſurance. Therefore if we will come vntounto it in our meaſure, we muſt labour to hauehave the feeling of our want, and to be troubled for it, and ſo pray earneſtly: we muſt come alſo in the faith of Gods goodneſſe, and hope of being heard, by conſidering the promiſes of his word, and the fulfilling of the ſame: we muſt continue in prayer, and pray often for the ſame thing; ſo ſhall it come to paſſe, that we ſhall not onelyonly beleeue beforehand generally, that God will heare vsus; but more particularly in that very thing that we pray for, find ſome aſſurance encreaſed in vsus, that he will helpe vsus; and we muſt wait vponupon him alſo to hauehave a greater aſſurance of it wrought in vsus afterwards. Therefore let vsus doe thus, and ſee whether the Lord in many things that we pray for, will not giuegive vsus that aſſurance, that he will helpe vsus ſome way or other; either by mitigating the thing that is vponupon vsus, or deliuering vsus cleane from it, or giuing vsus patience vnderunder it, or encreaſing our ſtrength to beare it, or turning it vntounto our good: ſo that wee ſhall ſee, the more wee pray, the more quiet ſhall we be in ſubmitting our wils to the will of God, and aſſuring our ſelues, that ſome way or other the Lord will heare vsus, and helpe vsus.
And furthermore concerning this particular, that they pray for, euen for Dauid their king, they had this aſſurance that God would heare him,How we may be aſſured that God will hear vsus for others. and helpe him. And ſo I doubt not but that many faithfull ſubiects and people in this land hauing in like maner prayed for their kings, and queenes, and gouernours, God hath giuen them aſſurance, that he hath heard them for them: and the more that any hauehave done ſo, the greater aſſurance hauehave they had. As many praying for the life of our late Queene Elizabeth: God did not onelyonly preſerue her perſon from a number of treaſons intended againſt her, but they had by their prayers comfort ouer it for the time to come, that the Lord would do ſo ſtill. And ſo ſhal we now hauehave for his moſt excellent maieſtie that now is, though he be ſubiect to many perils, as appeareth by the terrible murthers and treaſons that hauehave already broken out againſt his royall perſon, and whole progenie: that if we vſe to pray often for him publikely and priuatly, and that feruently with all our deſires, and beleeue that he is the Lords anoynted (that is) that he is ſet ouer vsus by the Lord in his iuſt title and inheritance;As for the king. that the Lord, who is the defender of all right, will not onelyonly preſerue him ſtill, maugre their heads, as hitherto he hath done, but will aſſure vsus of it in ſome good meaſure; that wee ſhall quietly ſubmit our ſelues to his peaceable and gratious gouernment, and not greatly feare the malitious attempts of his and our enemies. But as hee is religious himſelfe, and vſeth to pray for himſelfe, and putteth his truſt in God; ſo we praying often alſo and earneſtly for him, ſhall know more and more, that the Lord will heare him, and vsus for him. And this is true not onelyonly of our gouernours, but of all men: ſo that if we vſe to pray often for others, and if they hauehave made knowne and commended their eſtate vntounto vsus to that end; and we thereupon be feruent with the Lord for them;And for them that are viſited with the plague. it will come to paſſe, that not onelyonly the Lord will heare vsus for them, but we ſhall hauehave good hope of it, and ſo we ſhall hauehave comfort beforehand, that God will doe good vntounto them: and the oftner that we pray for any in any diſtreſſe of theirs, the more aſſurance ſhall we hauehave, God in his good time will heare vsus for them. And I doubt not but that in this time of ſickneſſe and mortalitie many hauehave found this to be true by experience, that by continuall and feruent prayer they hauehave not onelyonly obtained this aſſurance for themſelues, that the Lord will helpe them, but for others. Let that experience mooue vsus for the time to come, to pray ſtill for thoſe that are in this viſitation, or in the feare of it, that we may know at the laſt, that the Lord will heare vsus for them alſo, and helpe them in his bleſſed time, by the mightie power of his right hand: which we beſeech him, that we may find at his mercifull hand, for Ieſus Chriſts ſake our mediatour and redeemer. Amen.