A Godly and Learned Treatise of Prayer, Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Reasons moving to the dutie of prayer.
FIrst therefore the law of nature teacheth all1. Reason, taken from the law of nature. men this principle, That there is a God, and that this God is to be called upon and worshipped. For which cause all nations being never so barbarous, though they know not the true God, yet by the instinct of nature think themselves bound to call upon that which they suppose to be God. If therefore those nations which did not call upon the true God, whom indeed they did not know, are subject to the curse of God, Psal. 69. 6. Jer. 10. 25. how shall they escape the curse of God who knowing him do not call upon him? for by their not calling upon him they do deny him, Tit. 1. 16. and therefore this is observed as a note of the foolish Atheist, who saith that there is no God, that he doth not call upon the Lord, Psal. 14. 4.
Secondly, It is a principall part of that worship2. Because it is the end of our creation and redemption. of God for which the nature of man was at the first created according to his image, and for which it was redeemed, viz. that we might worship him in holinesse and righteousnesse: and therefore those who will not call upon him rob God of that honour that is due unto him, and as much as in them lyeth go about to frustrate that end for which they were created and redeemed: So principall, that sometimes the duty of invocation is put for the whol… worship of God, as Gen. 21. 33. & 26. 25. as if it were all in all. In which regard the temple which was provided for Gods worship was called the house of prayer, Esa. 56. 7. And no marvell; for by this one duty of invocation we exercise and testifie our religion, our faith, our love both of God and man, our affiance and hope, &c.
Thirdly, It is injoyned in the morall law of3. Because it is injoyned in the morall law. God, which is generall and perpetuall, and is therefore also required in the gospel. And if you ask in what part of the law; I answer, In both tables; as a duty of religion to God, and of charity to our neighbour, for whose good we either pray or give thanks: In every commandment; as the common means whereby we are enabled to pe… form the severall duties, and to attein those vertues which are therein prescribed: But chiefly it is commanded in the commandments of the first table; the obedience wher…of in a great part consisteth herein: For hereby God is worshipped in the spirit or inwardly, pr…cept. 1. adored in the body or outwardly, pr…cept. 2. sanctified or glorified in the mouth, praecept. 3. and a good part of the sanctifying of the sabbath praecept. 4. standeth in this.
Now if any man shall object, That he is a sinfullObject. man, and that by his sinne he hath made himself unworthy to tread upon the earth or to look up unto heaven, and much more unworthy to present himself before the Lord with hope to be heard; and consequently, that it were great presumption for him to call upon the Lord: I answer, That itAnsw. were indeed greater presumption to come before God then it was to rush into the presence of theEsth. 4. kings of Persia, were it not that the Lord did in like manner hold out unto us the sceptre of his word, therein by his manifold commandments injoyning us this duty, and by his gracious promises encouraging us thereunto. This therefore may be a fourth argument or motive: For if God hath commanded us to call upon him, and hath promised to heare us, in obedience to his commandment and in faith in his promises we are to call upon him, being assured that he who hath commanded us to pray and hath promised to heare will graciously accept our prayers.
The speciall commandments are dispersed inSpecial commandments injoyning prayer. many places of the scripture, and so likewise the promises. I will cite a few places where they are conjoyned: Psal. 50. 14, 15. Offer unto God thanksgiving: and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorifie me. Matth. 7. 7, 8. Ask and ye shall have; … and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you: for whosoever asketh receiveth, &c. Joh. 16. 23, 24. Verily verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you: Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. To these commandments adde 1. Thess. 5. 17, 18. Pray without ceasing; in every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. And to the promises that in Psal. 145. 18. belongeth, The Lord is near to all that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. And therefore they can no sooner call but he heareth, Dan. 9. 23. Yea, before we call the Lord hath promised to heare, Esa. 65. 24. Which sheweth that he is more ready to heare then we are to call upon him.