The Ambassador Between Heaven and Earth, Meditation 2 – Prayers

The Ambassador Between Heaven and Earth · Meditation 2 – Prayers

Of the Force, the vſe and necesſity of Prayer.

SInce all the dayes and howers of the life of man, the conſumers of the world & the meaſurers of time it ſelfe are the ſubiects & ſucceeders of the Lords owne handes, and by him only lent to thy vſe, be not thou then ſo vnnaturall againſt the Lord the owner thereof and againſt thine owne good as not ſometimes to lend him ſome of his owne howers to his ſeruice for thine owne good; Amongſt the many perturbations and troubles of this life, as ſickenes, impriſonment, loſſe of frendes, vexation of ſpirit, wrought by the bretheren, with vsus of the ſame inheritance, in the portion of the ſame infirmitie, from the loynes of our firſt parent Adam, The world in Rebellion offering diuers aſſaultes againſt the peace and tranquility of her children, and nothing to be found vnderunder the ſunne but Ʋanity and vexation of Spirit. The vnrulye paſſions, and affections, of our owne nature, and the headſtrong luſtes of the fleſh, and the concupiſcence thereof euer at enmity with the ſpirit, euer readye to intangle vsus in the ſnares of ſinne and death, our pronenes vntounto euill, and our backwardneſſe vntounto good, The Many that are called and the few that are choſen, the certainty of our death, the vncertainty of the time when, or the manner how, the fearfull account that muſt be rendered vntounto thee at the day of thy appearing in Maieſtie and power, to iudge both the liuing, and thoſe that are departed; the conſideration whereof in the hart of a Chriſtian toucht with the leaſt finger of his grace that can heale all our infirmities, will call him aſide into his retired clofſet or chamber, where he may not only find eaſe for his body, but eaſe alſo for his ſoule and ſpirit within him, by calling to mind the promiſes of God, the largeneſſe of his louelove, the extention of his fauour, the inheritance layed vp, the kingdome prepared from the beginning, the peace and reſt euerlaſting, which no diſtraction, tumult, nor vexation ſhall annoye, which by the ouer-eager purſuit of our affections, and louelove to this world, which is but a ſea ſubiect to all paſſions, and Mare amarum, a bitter ſea with all kind of myſerie, we may loſe (if we take not heed) And being ſo with-drawne with moſt proſtrat humylitie and obedience, we may ſacrifice the good thoughts of the ſpirit, and ſend vp prayers like the ſmoke of incenſe into the ayre, laying our mouthes to the eares of that wiſedome that knoweth our wantes better then we vnderſtand them our ſelues, be we new ſo afflicted, before we vtter them, going vntounto him that calles, come vntounto me all you that trauell and are heauen loaden and I will refreſh you, To him therefore let vsus goe, to him let vsus ſend vp theſe truſty embaſſadours our Prayers, Prayer the ſweet ceſterne and conduite of grace, by the which all the benefits and guiftes in that heauenly treaſure-houſe, are cōtinued, reſerued and renued vntounto vsus. Prayer the keye that opens where no man ſhuts, and ſhuttes where no man can open, that enters where no man hath paſſage, and returnes where no man can hinder. Prayer the life of the ſoule, when being perplexed with ſuch griefe of hart, as neyther Wine nor ſtrong drinke, according to the aduiſe of Salomon, can comfort her miſery, hauing no word to ſpeake, nor comfort to apply, when it is day wiſhing for nightes approach, and when it is night ſaying to her ſelfe, when ſhall it be morning? how euer the ſeaſon no comfort ſucceeding neither by light nor darkeneſſe, nor in any worldly felicitye, wiſhing as often as ſhee openeth her lips, and draweth in breath into her noſtrils; if God were as haſty to fulfill as ſhe to deſire: O that thou wouldeſt hide me in the graue, and keepe mee ſecret vntill thy wrath were paſt, Iob. 14. yet then, euen then, ſhe aſſumeth the winges of a doue, the motion and agility of the ſpirit of God, ſhe flyeth by the ſtrength of her Prayers into the boſome of Gods mercy, and there like the arke vponupon the mountaines of Armenia is at reſt, Therefore if any be afflicted, let him pray, let vsus not preſume in the height of our proſperity with Dauid, to ſay as hee did: I ſhall neuer be remoued: thou Lord of thy goodneſſe haſt made my hill ſo ſtrong, leaſt with him we ſuddainly ſhall ſee a change, Thou diddeſt but hide thy face and I was ſore troubled, then cryed I vntounto the Lord and prayed vntounto my God ſaying: what profit is there in my blood. Pſal. 20. therefore let him that ſtandes take good heed that he doe not fall, let vsus put our confidence in the Lord our God, and pray vntounto him, and to none other; neither let vsus preſume vponupon our ſelues, nor any earthly meanes beſide, for her was neuer contemplation, exerciſe or any kinde ſtudy in the world ſo acceptable to the maieſtie of God, ſo gratious in his ſight, ſo linked and true a friend to him that makes vſe of it as prayer is. It waketh in the night ſeaſon, it reſtes not in the day, it forſaketh vsus not by land nor by ſea, in health nor in ſickneſſe, in proſperity nor in aduerſity, in weale nor in woe, liuing nor dying, it is our laſt friend, and moſt indiſſoluble companion. Let vsus therefore louelove it, and therefore let vsus vſe it. There was neuer name in heauen or earth ſo worthy to bee called vponupon, ſo mighty for deliuerance, ſo puiſſant for protection, ſo gainfull for ſucceſſe, ſo compendious to abridge vnneceſſary labours, as the name of IEHOVAH, our moſt mercifull Father, and the image of his countenance, Ieſus Chriſt. Therefore to the Lord, there was neuer Sanctuary ſo free for Tranſgeſſors, in the ſtrongeſt priuiledge neuer ſuch ſafety, neuer holes in the rocke ſo open for the doues of the field, the armes of any mother ſo open to her childe, as the bowels of Gods compaſſion to all faithfull beleeuers. Therefore to him, and therefore faithfully, and in that method, fitneſſe, and propriety as Thomas, hauing the obiect of his prayer before his eyes, euen Chriſt Ieſus, my Lord, and my God. There was neuer creature liuing vnderunder the line of the Sun, that ſaw not affliction in his dayes; neuer was there any to whom affliction was not grieuous and irke-ſome: yet neuer was there affliction ſo great, but it hath beene vnderunder the correction of the Lord, whoſe hand hath beene able to maiſter it. Therefore to eueryevery affliction, as they come in ſeuerall kindes, for our ſeuerall ſins and tranſgreſſions, ſo our prayers muſt bee ſeuerall, and framed, and fitted thereunto, and powred forth both with wiſedome and zeale, that they come not harſhly, vndigeſted to thoſe eares that can both ſift and try the one and the other, the delicaſie and tenderneſſe whereof muſt bee wiſely intreated, and the fauour of his countenance carefully ſought: after the example of him that knew in his ſoule, that a faint and diſſembled prayer would returne empty into the boſome of him that ſent it vp; But a broken and contrite ſpirit the Lord would not deſpiſe, neuer ſent vp his petitions but with the deepeſt affection, and zeale of his minde, with the moſt ſincere integrity, and meditated zeale that might be: for EueryEvery night waſht he his bed, and watered▪ his Couch with teares, the bloud of the ſoule, and the wine of Angels, the pretious and ſignificant pearles of contrition, that preuaile without words, and effect where words faile. And therefore feruently after his example, that thou mayſt hauehave the force of two tongues in thy ſuit, the better to ſpeed: And to auoyd the malediction which thou mayſt elſe receiue in ſtead of a bleſſing: for curſed is he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently. And as we may learn precepts, and draw many excellent examples from the lines of the heathē Philoſophers & writers, ſo here to this wee may learne a zeale in our prayers, euen of thoſe wodden Prieſts, K. 1. 18. of whom it is written: that they called vponupon the name of Baal frō morning to noone, and when they had no anſwere, they cryed aloud; nay they cut themſelues with kniues till the bloud flowed: ſo they prayed not onelyonly in teares, but in bloud: and ſhall not wee, the children of the light, bee as zealous in our generation? And frō the agony & zeale of the ſon of Righteouſneſſe, that in the daies of his fleſh offered vp prayers & ſupplications with ſtrong cryes & teares to him that was able to helpe him; learne to adreſſe our ſelues in our neceſſities, of whom the Goſpel further declares, not only that he kneeled at the naming of whoſe name all knees hauehave bowed both in heauen & earth, and vnderunder the earth, but that he fell vponupon the ground, the footſtoole of his owne maieſty, and lay vponupon that face that neuer Angell beheld without reuerence: and when he had prayed before, hee prayed more earneſtly, as the Scriptures record, hee once prayed and departed, and a ſecond time, and yet a third time departed, and departed euermore vſing the ſame petitions, his prayer aſcending by degrees, like incenſe and perfume, and not onelyonly his lippes went, but his agony and contention within was ſo great, that an Angell was ſent from heauen to comfort him, and with the trouble of his ſoule, ſweat like droppes of bloud, trickling downe to the ground. Let vsus not therefore offer vp this ſacrifice, but remēber this bleſſed example of this our bleſſed ſauiour, in our imitation, that they may be bleſſed in their ſpeed, and we in their ſucceſſe, and not to vtter them remiſſe and careleſſe, as if our ſpirites and tongues were ſtrangers, ignorant of eithers purpoſe, the lippes babling without, the heart no compunction within, honouring God with our mouthes, but our ſpirits farre from him, our hearts not bleeding, whoſe droppes ſhould be heard and pittied: our Altar without fire, prayer without heat, words without intention, ſuppliancy of the body, without the harmony and conſent of the inward man. And as they muſt bee zealous, ſo directed to him alone: for neither to Angels nor Saints, Mediators or Friends, one or other, greater or leſſer, in heauen or in earth, they are not due, are not to be offered, but to the eares of him and his annoynted, after the example of ſo many, both ancient & righteous Patriarks, Prophets, Iudges, Kings, recorded in the booke of God, and in an hundred and fifty Pſalmes, a hundred whereof, at the leaſt, are prayers and ſupplications, and in all the deuout requeſts that the Apoſtles of Chriſt, and other his Diſciples ſent into heauen to him alone, and his bleſſed Sonne our Sauiour, without interceſſion or requeſt to any other: And by the example of that Kingly Prophet in the 86. Pſalme: Bow downe thine eare vntounto mee, I am poore and needy, my diſtreſſe requireth thy helpe. Bee mercifull vntounto mee, O Lord, I cry vntounto thee continually: Reioyce the ſoule of thy ſeruant: for vntounto thee O Lord, doe I lift my Soule. VVhom hauehave I in Heauen but thee? and in earth that I deſire in compariſon of thee? But it is good for mee to hold mee faſt by God, to put my trust in the Lord God, &c. Pſalm. 73. And to whom wee muſt not onelyonly pray with zeale and deſire, but with fitneſſe and congruity, and application vntounto our ſeuerall neceſſities: as for the generall bleſſings and benefites of God, there muſt bee generall thankeſgiuings for ſins in generall, generall confeſſions, ancient and vſuall formes of prayer, for ancient and vſuall occurrences, we may take vntounto vsus words, as the Prophet Hoſea ſpeaketh, and ſay vntounto the Lord at all times, Take away all iniquity, and receiue vsus graciouſly: ſo will we render the calues of our lippes. But as the diuerſity of our ſinnes, our newneſſe, and ſtrangeneſſe, and abhominations therin, ſhall pull from the Iudgement ſeate of God, new and varyed, and diu…rſ…y of puniſhments, and iudgements therefore: ſo wee muſt accordingly vary our prayers, and ſpeake in the language of their neceſſity. In time of plague or infection. ſickneſſe and mortality, our prayers muſt bee to God, that hee would ſtay and ſheath vp the ſword in the hand of his deuouring Angell, that on eueryevery ſide ſtrikes downe to the graue, emptying houſes and ſtreetes to fill vp Church-yardes, and vaults, making them a me…hridate, or preſeruatiue againſt the Contagion and danger thereof (which indeed is the ſoueraineſt reſtoratiue vnderunder heauen, to make ſound againe what ſinne hath hurt and wounded) acknowledging with a ſorrow from our hearts, that our ſinnes hauehave procu…ed …t▪ and the hand of GOD moſt iuſtly inflicteth it therefore, acknowledging the original cauſe thereof to proceede more ou… of our owne corruption and nature, then the aire or any other ſecundary cauſe, beſeeching his maieſtie, as Phinees did, that the plague may ceaſe, and that hee will viſite no longer with that kinde of iudgement. If a barrenneſſe poſſeſſe the land, leaneneſſe, and ſcarſity, and famine dwell vponupon her borders, ſo that the Children thereof cry for bread, and ſwoone as they go in the ſtreetes for food, we muſt pray in another ſtile, that the Lord will vouchſafe to heare the Heauens againe, that the Heauens may heare the Earth, the Earth the Corne, and VVine, and Oyle: And theſe Iſraell and all other his diſtreſſed people, Hoſea 2, and that hee will viſite no longer with this kinde of iudgement. If the enemy ſhall threaten our Land, to inuade our Territories, to make a deuaſtation, ſpoyle, and hauocke of all that wee hauehave, that may fall in his way, ſaying: Come, wee will deuoure, wee will deuoure, the name of Syon ſhall bee no more had in remembrance, Ioel. 2. Wee muſt addreſſe our petitions to the Lord in another key and forme of Supplication: Spare thy people, O Lord, and giuegive not thy heritage to reproach, that the Heathen ſhall rule ouer them. VVherefore ſhould they ſay amongſt thy people: VVhere is now their GOD? O ceaſe to viſite thy ſeruant with this kinde of iudgement. If the cloudes yeeld not their moiſture vponupon our fruites vponupon earth, ſo that the labour of our handes, and the fat of our fieldes periſh through ſterility and drought. Still as the Plagues are new, ſo let vsus come before him with new Complaints, new Songs, new Interceſſions and Obſecrations, meekly Kneeling before the Lord our maker, lowly proſtrate at the footſtoole of his mercy, that theſe iudgements may bee diuerted and turned away from vsus. Thus did that great patterne of wiſedome and experience, Salomon, whoſe foote-ſteppes are worthy our imitation, beſeeching the Lord, that when the people ſhould pray vntounto him, according to their ſeuerall neceſſities, whether afflicted with the aſſault of their ene…y, or with want or ſuperfluity of raine, with peſtilence, famine, or mill-dew, captiuity, or any other affliction, either in body or in minde, he would then in heauen heare their complaints vponupon earth, and bee mercifull vntounto them. And as our prayers will not aſcend vnleſſe faith and deuotion beare them vp, nor will ſpeede vnleſſe they yſſue from a heart that vowes an vnfeined repentance: which that wee may the more effectually doe, wee muſt call to minde our ſinnes and tranſgreſſions, that hauehave procured thoſe iudgements, that wee may repent, and waſh them from vsus, that God may heare vsus, and hauehave mercy vponupon vsus. But this Repentance, that here is meant, is more bitter then many imagine: For as concerning Repentance, eueryevery ſorrow is not repentance, for then ſhould worldlings repent. Some thinke eueryevery confeſsion to bee repentance, then had Pharaoh and Saul repented. Others imagine eueryevery weeping repentance, which is not, for then had Eſau repented. Others take eueryevery little humiliation repentance, but miſtaking, for then had Achab repented. Others, that eueryevery good word, & promiſe is repē tance: if that were ſo, thē ſhould ſicke men repent. Some thinke to cry God mercy is repētance, then ſhould eueryevery foole repent. But true repentance indeede, and ſuch as is here meant, is more then the hanging downe the head like a Bull-ruſh, or to wring out a teare, to ſob out a ſigh, to weare ſackecloth or haire-cloth, or onelyonly with a verball ſound and pronuntiation of the lippes, without the priuity of the heart within, to cry, Lord hauehave mercy on mee, and ſo ceaſe, but it is the ſcourging, renting, wracking, and launcing of the very ſoule, and a downe right ſhowre of teares from a broken and bleeding heart, and a filling of the rai…es wi…h exceeding bitterneſſe of ſorrow and anguiſh for ſinne committed, And to this ſchoole of▪ ſharpeneſſe, but ſweetneſſe, of paine but of pleaſure, let no man thinke it too earely to go, too earely to beginne, ô go to it in thy youth, and let Salomon bee thy Tutor: Remember thy Creator in the daies of thy youth, let it be often recited that it may be once remembred. Nor no man thinke it to late, leaſt he omit and looſe that which he might otherwiſe hauehave gained: For at what time ſoeuer a ſinner ſhall repent him of his wickedneſſe from the bottome of his heart, the Lord will forgiue and forget it, and his ſins ſhall vaniſh from his ſight and preſence, as the dew before the Sun, O heauen before heauen! o heauen vponupon earth, and the contrary perſwaſions on the other part, o hell before hell, ô hell vponupon earth, and damnation before the time; I ſay againe, if hee repent of his wickedneſſe, it is not the miſery of this wretched life, nor terror of conſcience, nor malice of foes, let them be men or deuils, let them bee ſeuen in one, a legion in another, all the Principalities and Powers of darkeneſſe in the third, that ſhall hinder the aſcenſion, and bleſſing of his prayer, that ſhall …inder the forgiueneſſe of his ſinne, for neuer was the ſhadow more faithfull to the body, then a bleſſed forgiueneſſe to a faithfull repentance, on the one ſide, then good ſucceſſe hath bene to a feruent prayer; on the other ſide, zealouſly conceiued in the breſt and powerfully vttered by the voyce of the tongue and the ſpirit, I cr…d …n … afflictio… … to …he Lord and hee heard mee, but this ſucceſſe, as formerly inſtructed, muſt not bee looked for if it want theſe neceſſary adiunctes, theſe vndenayed, vndelayed aſſiſtantes, that bleſſe the company wherein they come, and ſpeed the ſuite wherin they are Sollicitors and Plaintiffes, that beate not the aire with ſounds, that ariſe from the hollow and emptineſſe of them, like brookes that roare and make a noyſe, but ſhew their empty bottomes, that containe nothing but grauell and filthines within them, like the diſſolute and faſhionable prayers of vsus and our times, both at home and abroad, in chamber & Church, who like hipocrites or Gentiles vtter a forme of words rather of cuſtome then of zeale, as the Parrat of Aſcaniae recited the Creed, flattering God with our tongues, but diſſembling with him in our hearts, & withall ſo full of toyes and fanſies for want of faith and reuerence that when wee hauehave prayed wee had need to pray againe, that hee would forgiue our ſinnes in our prayers, becauſe we thinke leaſt of him, when we pray vntounto him; Neuer remembrng the Maieſty of his Perſon to whom wee ſpeake, nor the excellency of the worke wee take in hand, neuer rowſing vp our ſpirits with the thoughts therof, or if we ſtirre thē vp then to pray, leauing thē againe as Chriſt his Diſciples before we hauehave throughly awaked thē, as if the offering of the halt and the lame body without ſoule, or ſoule without deuotiō, ſound of our lips without the thought of our heart, one part of our ſelues without the other▪ or the whole without a whole, intention without clamor, & crying aloud could pleaſe him, The prayers of Dauid we may reade were not thus caſt off at randome in the 55 Pſalme, ſaith he, I mourne in my prayers and make a noyſe, euening, and morning, and noone, will I pray and make a noyſe. and in the 38 Pſalme, before I rore for the very griefe of mine heart, Lord my whole deſire is bef…re thee, and my ſighing is not hid from thee, Cor meum palpitat, my …e…rt is in trauell, runneth to and fro, I hauehave no reſt, no quietneſſe within mee: Such were the pangues and prickings of Iobs heart, I…b. chapter 3. My gronings commeth forth before I eate, & effund…ntur velut aqua rugitus mei, And my roarings are powred forth, and waue like waters, not groning, nor crying, but plaine roarings, with a continuall in-undation, Ʋelut vnda, impellitur vnda, as one waue daſheth forth another, now when the ſoule is thus prepared to ſpeake, the eares of the Lord are euer open to heare, theſe are wonderfull paſſions, the hungry Lyon in the deſert oppreſt with extremity of ſuffering and want, neuer rored ſo much for his prey, nor the hart braying after th… w… ter-brookes, as the goodneſſe of the Lord, in the ſoule of the faithfull after him, The mighty Lord of heauen and earth bleſſed and hallowed bee whoſe name for euer, in earth as it is in heauen, and bleſſed are thoſe that are in louelove with his goodneſſe, and trace neareſt vntounto his ſteppes, to giuegive vsus heere another example hath beene feruent, and euen roared in his ſupplications as wee reade for Lazarus and Martha and others whom hee loued, and afterwards in his owne cauſe, when his ſoule was hedged in, and inuironed round about with vexation, euen vntounto death and anguiſh, and ſorrow incompaſt him on eueryevery ſide, as alſo then in his greateſt agony, when hee cryed with a great voyce, not for perticular perſons, as before hee wept, but vndergoing the burthen and puniſhment of all the ſinnes and ſinners in the world, My God my God why haſt thou forſaken me' and crying againe with a great voyce graue vp the ghoſt: therefore that bleſſed Apoſtles mentioning the dayes of his humanity and the exerciſe of his ſacred life and fruit of his lips and the paſſions of his ſpirit thought it not enough to giuegive notice to the world that he prayed to his father, that he prayed with teares which diſtilled downe his bleſſed cheekes and watered the ground, nor of a crye alone weakely ſent out, but of a vehement and ſtrong crye which if heauen were braſſe were able to pearſe through it and find way into the ſanctuary, into the eares of the almighty & ſuch a prayer as it aſcēds lightly vp, borne vpō the wings of faith ſo it euer comes laden heauily downe with a bleſſing on the head of him that firſt gaue it flight, thus then this lanthorne of our direction, and compoſition of humility and goodneſſe, this glorious & neuer enough admired Lord of life, who preſt and oppreſt with the waight and bu… then thereof groned vnderunder the affliction of our ſins, in a moſt perfect forme of exact obedience with his bleeding teares for them, for vsus, ſhewed vsus the right forme of ſaithfull ſupplications for our ſelues, biddeth vsus be importunate and feruent in our prayers that they may wreſtle with God and ouercome him: Was he thus greued for vsus, and ſhall not we greiue for our ſelues? groned hee vnderunder the waight of our deſeruings of no infirmity in himſelfe but in compaſſion and pitty towards vsus? whom we continually greue and no way ſo much as in committing of ſinne and drinking it downe the throte with gredineſſe and appetite as Behemoth, drinketh downe Iordan, without ſence, or ſorrow, or greife for the ſame, the conſideration whereof and what it may procure vsus hereafter biddeth vsus be importunate and feruent in our prayers to preuent it before the dreadfull Maieſty of the omnipotent Lord of heauen, and earth, whom we ſtand before, the royalty of his nature. ſubl…mitie of his place, dominion ouer men and Angels, that boweth the heauens and ſayleth vponupon the wings of the wind who with the breath of his noſtrils is able to deſtroy our both bodyes and ſoules, change the world and the beauty thereof into a chaos and heap of confuſion, turne the ſunne into darkeneſſe and the moone into blood and alter the propertie and being of all the creatures in the world at the twinckling of an eye, conſidering what we are that ſpeake, that offer the Calues of our lips and the fruits of our repētāce, poore naked, impotent, vnworthy wretches dānatos antequā natos, all theſe conſiderations & many more bid vsus be importunate & feruent in our prayers, the ſuruay & conſideration of our wretchednes & mortality, our nakedneſſe in all good workes that it may make vsus aſhamed as it did our firſt parēts when they hid themſelues from the preſence of their God, & as M…riam of her leproſie altogether abaſhed & aſtonied, after mortality exceedingly mortal, the view of our ſins exceedingly ſinfull, the number, the waight, the danger therof, that hange about our necks like milſtones that we are not able, are not worthy, to caſt vp our eyes to heauen and after our ſins, our miſery exceedingly miſerable that the Prophet of God was aſtonied to ſee either man or the ſon of man ſo kindly viſited, biddeth vsus be feruent in our prayers, laſtly the ſucceſſe we expect, vnleſſe we call in queſtion or doubt of the promiſes of God which are Yea and Amen, and more ſtable then the pillers of the earth, or the baſe of the ſureſt foundation, except we will caſt our graine into the earth and expect no harueſt, plant vines and not drinke the wine thereof, powre out our plaintes and petitions, and thinke that God eyther heareth not or regardeth not at all, or will not grant as farre as is expedient for our good, which if we ſhall do the contrary vponupon the truth & ſecurity of his warrant, there is another motiue for feruency in our prayers; laſtly the pretiouſneſſe of the f…uour of his countenance which muſt be carefully ſought for our owne benefit and all theſe reſpects and conſideratitions thereunto tending, doe crye vntounto vsus to crye vntounto him, to be ſeruent in our prayers, for we muſt not thinke that the noyſe of our lips, as the ringing of baſons, meere ſoundes and voices that wake and flye vp whilſt the inward man doth ſlumber and keepe downe procure vsus audience at the handes of God, Ʋ …lentiores enim voces apud S…cretiſſimas d…i at…res non faciunt verba ſed d…ſideria the ſtrongeſt and moſt effectuall ſpech in the ſecret cares of God proceedeth not from wordes but from intention, he that heareth without eares can interpret our prayers without our tongues, he that made both the one and the other knowes the language of both a like, he that ſaw & fanſied Nathaniell vnderunder the figtree before he was called: ſaw and ſanctified Iohn Baptiſt in his mothers wombe before he came forth, and hard the hart of Zacheus before his conuerſion, ſeeth and bleſſeth our prayers feruently conceyued and ſowne in the root of our conſciences before they ſpring forth, but if they are only verbal and vocal ſoundes, without wringing any drop of contrition from the conſcience, blood from the ſpirit, they may beat the ayre with empty ſoundes, but the eares of the almighty ſhall they not enter, but their want of deuotion ſhall be anſweared by him as the prayers of thoſe idolaters in Ezechiel. 8. Though they cry in mine eares with a loud voyce yet will I not heare them, therefore enter not hereunto vnworthely, preſume not to ſpeake with God but with due reſpect and reuerence of his maieſtie to whom thou ſpeakeſt, ſtirre vp both thy tongue and thy ſpirit that they may ioyne hand in hand the ſooner to preuayle, and if thou haſt oftentimes powred out thy petitions and plaintes to God and haſt not preuayled, yet be not diſcoraged thereby, go on ſtill in thy ſure, importune him more and more, weary his patient eares with thy clamors and thou ſhalt at laſt obtaine although peraduenture not in the ſame manner thou deſireſt yet in that which he ſees more conuenient for thee, be of Iobs mind though he kill mee yet will I truſt in him, though he denie thee yet deſpayre not in him: how long did the holy Patriarkes and Prophets expect the fullfilling of there Propheſies, yet in the fulneſſe of time they were fulfilled: heauen and earth ſhall paſſe but not one title of his word ſhall fall to the ground; and therfore I ſay againe and againe, when thou haſt ended thy ſuite, begin it a new, repeat it and recite it, ingeminate it and dwel vponupon it, & be not beaten by any diſtruſt or temptation from thy hould, learne adherence to thy ſuite from the mariners conſtancy, we beſech thee o Lord, wee beſech thee, ſet thy hart truly a worke and it will find this theame to thinke on, for where the affection is faſtened the tongue is eaſie and willing to dwell thereupon, O Abſolon, o my ſonne Abſolon, o Abſolon my ſonne, my ſonne, was the mourning of Dauid, when he heard of the death of Abſolon, and as if his affection had only dwelt vponupon the name and memory of his ſonne, & his tongue had forgotten to pronounce all other ſpeach ſaue only Abſ…lon, It manifeſteth likewayes what louelove our Sauiour bore towards that holy Citty, in that he ingeminated and repeated his ſorrows ouer and ouer it, O Ieruſalem Ieruſalem, if I forget Ieruſalem let my right hand forget her cunning, ſo muſt our affections be in louelove with him and his bleſſed name more then ſon, or Citty, or any worldly delight that it may be euer meditating in our hartes & walking on our tongues, my God, & my Lord; and the more we are held off the nearer let vsus preſſe, let vsus attend his leaſure and pleaſure, with patience, without diſtruſt, without wearines, the longer Abraham talked with God the more he preuayled he brought him from the whole number to fiftye and from fiftye to tenne before he gaue him ouer: Behould I hauehave begunne to ſpeake vntounto my Lord and am but duſt and aſhes, let not my Lord be angry and I will ſpeake againe, and ſemel and iterum, once more I hauehave begunne, and againe I will ſpeake and let not my Lord be offended, and ſo far was God from it that he gaue him both a patient eare and a gratious anſweare in that his moſt importunate requeſt. If ten be found there I will not deſtroy it, conſider and behould herin the force of prayer from the tongue of a righteous man that it ſo far was powerfull with God that if in the whole Citty, a Citty ſo excedingly ſinfull that the crye thereof aſcended vp into heauen, & they entred into the Sanctum Sanctorum euen into the eares of the holy of holieſt with ſuch continuall loudnes and clamor that they gaue him no reſt, yet notwithſtanding in his wrath and reſolution of there ouerthrow, and his determinate decree paſt therupon, in that populous and ſinfull Citty if there had bene but ten righteous perſons to hauehave ſtood vp betwixt his wrath his iudgements and there ſins, for there ſakes it had not bene deſtroy'd, It pleaſeth the eares of his maieſtie right well to be longer intreated, whoſe bleſſed condition & nature is neuer ſo truly leuelled at as when we perſwade ourſelues our importunacy therein can neuer be burdenſome vntounto him, as he that hath twiſe and ten-times together ingeminated and recited ouer and repeated againe the riches of his mercy, as Ex: 34. The Lord, the Lord is mercifull, gratious, ſ…ow to anger abundant in goodneſſe, & truth, reſeruing mercy for thouſands, forgiuing iniquity and ſins and tranſgreſſions: what did he meane thereby but that twiſe and ten-times together we ſhould ingeminate, recite and repeat ouer againe our requeſtes and petitions, and crye for his mercy, and then though he ſeeme deafe for a while vntounto our petitions and make as though he heard them not, yet through our importunity at laſt we ſhall get him to confeſſe an Audience, & if our wordes and prayers alone will not preuayle let vsus then ioyne therto our teares that God may ſay to vsus as he ſayd to Ezekiah, I hauehave ſene thy teares, for they are ſuch powerfull Embaſſadors that they can no ſooner appeare but the eye & compaſſion of God is vponupon them, yea Dauid ſaith that God hath heard the voyce of his weeping, and teares are waightie wordes, texts that containe in thē large commentaries▪ for in the eares of God a vehement deſire is a ſtrong crye, a remiſſe and eareleſſe intention, a ſilent and ſtill voyce, a teare in ſorrow for our ſins, that with the Publican cryes, Lord be mercifull vntounto mee a ſinner ſhall be more iuſtified and acceptable to God then all the Phariſiticall brags and oſtentation of our worthines we can make, therefore glorifie God with thy body and thy ſpirit and all the facultes of both as is moſt meet and requiſite, for all are his: lift vp thy ſoule with Dauid, lift vp thyne handes alſo with Moſes; thine eyes with S. Peter, and thy voyce▪ with Deborah: and thus ſeeking you ſhall finde, thus knocking it ſhall be opened vntounto you, giuegive but thy prayer a voyce to aske with, for it muſt not bee dumbe and ſilent, giuegive it an eye to ſeeke with, for it muſt not be blind and careleſſe, giuegive it an hand to knocke with, for it muſt not feare to moleſt & diſquiet, and not only the doores but all the treaſures and iewelles of the kingdome of heauen ſhall be open vntounto you, whither and to which our bleſſed Sauiour himſelfe inuites vsus, come vntounto me, all you that labor & are laden▪ O louelove without example! where the king himſelfe commandeth our appearance who ſhall keepe vsus backe? where he commands, open yee gates of righteouſnes and bee yee opened yee euerlaſting doores, who ſhall oppoſe them againſt vsus? what need we heare of mediators, interceſſors or friendes, where he himſelfe hath giuen his voyce, & calles vsus to himſelfe alone, and yet though the francknes of his louelove hath giuen vsus this acceſſe, let vsus not come vntounto him with the leſſe reſpect or reuerence (which doth deſerue the more in a far greater degree, that notwithſtanding his omnipotency & ſtate that ſits in glory at the right hand of his father, & we poore wormes creeping vponupon the footſtole of his earth that he will vouchſafe we ſhould ſpeake vntounto him as it were face to face, powre out our petitions with our owne voyces into his moſt ſacred eares) then to an earthly king: we all know by daily experience the kings of the earth keepe thēſelues within ſtrict watch & wary regard, and there perſons are full of maieſty & terror, & not ſpoken vntounto but with difficulty & friendſhip, beſide the infinit diſtraction of ſutes & buſines more then the eares of any mortal man can receiue, driue them of neceſſity to the deputation of ſubordinate miniſters, whoſe breath is in there noſtrilles, & whoſe life is the life of there country & there people with whom they liue, & therfore requiſite that wary regard & attendance ſhould dwell about there perſons, but in God who rideth vponupon the Cherubins & maketh his enimies his footſtoole, there is neither danger in his perſon, nor defect in his hearing, for he that planted the eare doth he not heare? he that ſtandeth & knocketh at our doores & calleth for entrance when we knock at his, wil he not grāt entrāce. In earthly courts, amōgſt which we liue, we may hauehave many impediments, few that will hardly fauour vsus, but many that may hinder vsus, before we cā deliuer our meſſage. But at theſe heauēly gates, at which we muſt alwaies call, the Lord is porter alone, for when the friend knocked in the parable of Luke at midnight, the heauieſt & deadeſt hower of the night, who was neareſt the gate firſt awoke if he ſlept at all & firſt anſweared O quam d…re vult! O how willing is he to grant, that is ſo willing to be diſquieted, how glad to here thy knock that hath placed his bed ſo neare the gate O quā non ad ianuam tantum ſed ipſa Ianka. dominus fuit, and how truely may wee ſay, that hee was not onelyonly neere the gate but the Lord himſelfe, and the very gate, who when his children were faſt a ſleepe, the eares of Angels and Saints ſhut vp, firſt and at very firſt call, nay onelyonly amongſt the reſt made anſwere vntounto it, the Lord is alwaies neerer vntounto vsus then wee are to him, Pſal. 10. Hee heareth the deſ…re of the poore, hee firſt prepareth the heart and ſetteth it on worke to pray, and when he hath ſo done bendeth his eare vntounto it, giuing vntounto vsus both the cauſe and the effect, both the bleſſing and mēanes of the bleſſing, doubtleſſe the truſtieſt and moſt effectuall meſſenger wee hauehave to ſend is prayer, if we ſend vp merites the ſtarres in heauen will diſdaine it, that wee that dwell at the footſtoole of God dare preſume ſo farre, when the pureſt creatures in heauen are impure in his ſight, if wee ſend vp feare, and diſtruſt the length of the way will tire them out, and with the weight they will ſinke to the ground, before they come halfe way vpto the throne of ſaluation, if we ſend vp blaſphemies and curſes all the creatures in heauen and earth will band themſelues againſt vsus, the Sunne and the Moone will raine downe bloud, the fire hot burning coales, the aire thunderbolts vponupon our heads, but prayer is a meſſenger freed from all theſe imperfections, which neither the tediouſneſſe of the way, nor difficulties of the paſſage, can hinder from her purpoſe, quicke of ſpeed, faithfull of truſt, able to mount aboue the Eagles of the sky, into the heauen of heauens, as a Chariot of fire leading vsus aloft into the preſence of God to ſeeke his aſſiſtance and grace, the leaſt finger of whoſe right hand, is of more puiſſance then the whole arme either of fleſh or any ſpirit beſides, yea then the whole loines, whole ſubſtances, whole bodies of Angels, or of Men, ſiluer, gold, ſilke, purple, all other creatures, ſo it ſhall walke through life and death without controulement, if it find Angels, Principallities, powers, things preſent, things to come, or any other creature in the world ſtopping her paſſage, and rebuking her forwardneſſe, ſhee ſhall cleare her way notwithſtanding and clime into the preſence of her God, and in his eares deliuer her meſſage, Bee we in ſickeneſſe to him the true Ph…ſition that knowes both the cauſe and the cure, ſhee comes for health: bee wee in impriſonment there ſhee ſollicites a releaſe from him the Lord of liberty: bee we oppreſt with pouerty or want, The earth is the Lords and all that dwell therein, to him ſhee comes, for the bleſſing of the Lord maketh rich, are we afflicted aboue meaſure, beyond the ſtrength of man, inſomuch that we doubt whether we liue or no, receiuing the ſentence of death, within our ſelues, ſo as in our opinion, we comprehend no deliuery, no euaſion, but lie open to the direct accompliſhment thereof, yet in this exigent and extremity wee come to God in this meanes, euen almoſt beyond hope, without expectation, and by his good pleaſure we are deliuered, therefore heerein let vsus receiue comfort: hee hath, hee doth and will deliuer vsus, not onelyonly from the death of our bodies, when wormes and rottenneſſe hauehave made their long and laſt prey vponupon them, but from the death of our mindes too, when the ſpirit is buried vnderunder ſorrowes▪ & there is no creature found in heauen or earth to giuegive it comfort▪ Therfore be our miſery, bee our affliction neuer ſo great, and though in our weake immagination wee can imagine no deliuery, no releaſe, when all earthly meanes and comforts forſake vsus, let vsus not yet forſake this refuge, let vsus not deſpaire in his helpe, no more then Ionas did, who in the bottome of the ſea within a priſon, within that bottome, in ſuch an affliction, ſo great, ſo ſtrange, as greater nor ſtranger could not bee, nor to humane reaſon more without hope, yet ſaith hee, Ionas 2. 2. I cryed in mine affliction vntounto the Lord, and hee heard mee, out of the belly of hell cryed I, and thou heardest my voyce, Therefore I ſay againe, in aduerſity let vsus not deſpaire, but pray with hope, In aduerſity be it neuer ſo great, let vsus pray with confidence, In our proſperity let vsus pray, in our proſperity neuer ſo flouriſhing let vsus pray, let vsus pray continually: In our health and proſperity let vsus pray to continue it; in our ſickeneſſe and aduerſity, let vsus pray to releaſe it, And if we conſider our eſtate rightly, we ſhall perceiue many reaſons that may moue vsus to this exerciſe daily, to ſeeke his fauour and louing countenance, without whoſe protection and care ouer vsus wee are ready to fall into a thouſand dangers, to periſh continually, let vsus therefore in time and ſeaſon, with wordes ſutable to our purpoſe and intention, either thankeſ-giuings for benefites receiued, or with petitions, and intreaties for neceſſities implored, in the time of ſickeneſſe, in the time of our health, in the time of our aduerſity, in the time of our proſperity, let vsus come before him, ſuting our wordes in the habite of our occaſions, with ſuch fitneſſe and decency, that they ſal not harſhly and from the purpoſe in the eares of the Almighty. And to that end good Reader I hauehave heere compiled and ſet downe many formes and moulds of prayer fitting for ſeuerall perſons, occaſions, and times, after the example of our Sauiour Chriſt, the true patterne of all wiſedome and goodneſſe, who hath giuen vsus the firſt and beſt forme thereof himſelfe, who hath both taught vsus to pray, and taught vsus how to pray, and that will both heare our prayers and grant our requeſts, as farre as ſeemes expedient to his vnſearchable wiſedome, that knowes our wants before hee heares our cōplaints, & our neceſſities better then we our ſelues, & for becauſe Prayer is ſo excellent a thing, ſo ready, ſo ſwift, ſo powerful, ſo vnſeperated from vsus, that it cleaues vntounto vsus when all other meanes forſak vsus, & therfore that wee ſhould the more earneſtly imbrace it, more zealouſly imply it, more deerely eſteeme it, there is great reaſon that it finds vsus oftētimes out cō fort in greateſt extremities, that whē we find our ſelues in miſety, our waies hedged vp, as with thornes, that wee cannot ſtirre to deliuer our ſelues there. hence, when wee are ouerflowne with the deluge of ſinne as with a floud, and iudgements inuiron vsus on eueryevery ſide, this is the Doue that brings vntounto our ſoules the Oliue branch of comfort, yet becauſe for the moſt part we kill the life therein through the coldneſſe of our deuotion, and careleſneſſe of our deliuery, and vnfit preparation thereunto, and finde not the ſweeteneſſe and ſucceſſe that elſe we might expect, and obtaine at the hands of God thereby, Therefore I hauehave here drawne them out to life, ſhewed both the excellency thereof, and preparation thereunto befitting, that theſe formes hereafter following and all other whatſoeuer in this kind may be the more powerfull, bleſſed, and comfortable to all that ſhall vſe them, without the which it is impoſſible that they ſhould pleaſe God, or any good ſucceſſe follow thereupon.

The Embaſſadour betweene Heauen and Earth.