The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 2 · Chapter 40
CHAP. XL. Conſolations for ſuch as bewayle their hardneſſe of hart and wants in prayer.
§. Sect. 1 OThers complaine that they are ſo ouerwhelmed with their hardneſſe of hart,Conſolations for ſuch as cōplaine that they cannot pray at all. and drowſie dulneſſe of ſpirit that eyther they cannot pray at all, or if they doe it is barrainely without all forme or faſhion; or if they hauehave the eloquence of the tongue & good ſet formes of praier yet they perfourme it coldly and drowſilie, without all earneſtneſſe and feruencie of ſpirit, hauing their minds caried away with wandring thoughts, ſo that their praiers are but meere liplabour, & therefore it were better not to pray at all, becauſe they cannot performe this dutie in any good maner or meaſure as God requireth.
And this is a tentation wherewith euen the deareſt children of God are much vexed and troubled, and therefore it ſhall not be amiſſe to anſwere the ſeuerall branches of this complaint. Firſt therfore, where as they complaine that they cannot pray at all, this is to bee vnderſtood either generally of all times, or ſpecially at ſometimes. If they ſay they can neuer pray, it is very likely that either they forget or much deceiue themſelues, for few or none who are altogether deſtitute of the ſpirit of ſupplication hauehave any vnderſtanding to diſcerne their want, or any grace to bewaile it, but content themſelues with their lip-labour as though they had perfourmed acceptable ſeruice vntounto God. And it is a worke of one and the ſame ſpirit to make vsus ſee our infirmities with hatred and diſlike of them, and to moue vsus earneſtly to deſire of God that we may be freed from them, which earneſt deſire is harty praier. But if they further affirme that they are moſt ſure they doe neuer pray vntounto God, I anſwere that though this in it ſelfe be a moſt daungerous caſe, for it is a ſigne of a worker of iniquitie, not to call vponupon God as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh,Pſal. 53.4. Pſal. 53.4. yet they hauehave no cauſe to deſpaire, for the ſame ſpirit which hath reuealed vntounto them this their ſinne and infirmitie, and hath wrought in them a diſlike thereof, will alſo remoue it and ſupply their want in Gods good time, if they will labour for this good gift, and not quench the good motions of the ſpirit when God offreth them vntounto them.
The gift of praier not in our owne power.But if they cannot denie that ſometimes they hauehave had the grace giuen them of God to call earneſtly vppon his name, howſoeuer in this preſent time they are altogether disfurniſhed thereof, then let them know that their caſe in this reſpect is common withall the deare children of God, for harty prayer is not in our owne power, neither doth it attend vponupon our owne will, but it is the gift of God which at ſometimes in plentifull meaſure he beſtoweth vponupon his children, and at other times he pulleth backe his liberall hand; to the end that by the want thereof, we may learne to aſcribe the glorie and praiſe of our harty prayers vntounto God, who worketh in vsus the will and the deed and is in truth the onelyonly true authour of them which praiſe, otherwiſe in pride of hart we would arrogate vntounto our ſelues, as being a naturall facultie and in our owne power; and alſo to the end we may more highly eſteeme it, and with more ioy and diligence vſe it when we hauehave it beſtowed on vsus, leaſt through our negligence and ſlouthfulneſſe we mooue the Lord to take it from vsus.
Seeing therefore this hartie calling vponupon Gods name is a gift of God, & a worke of his holy ſpirit in vsus which at ſometimes heretofore we hauehave diſcerned in our ſelues, let vsus not altogether be diſcouraged though at ſometimes we want it;Rom. 11.29. for the giftes of God are without repentance, and though at ſometimes they are withdrawne from our ſenſe and feeling, yet ſhall they neuer be taken from vsus; and if at any time we hauehave had aſſurance that the ſpirit of God hath dwelled in vsus, by this worke thereof effectuall prayer, we may aſſure our ſelues that it hath not forſaken vsus,Rom. 8.26. but will againe helpe our infirmities, and whereas we cannot tell how to pray as we ought, the ſpirit it ſelfe will make request for vsus with ſighes, which cannot be expreſſed.
§. Sect. 2 Secondly,Conſolations for ſuch as cōplaine that they cannot pray in any good forme. whereas they complaine that they cannot pray in any good forme, but oftentimes fill Gods eares with impatient cries & vncomfortable roarings in ſtead of prayers, they are to know that this is often incident vntounto the children of God, eſpecially when his hand is heauy vponupon them, either in ſome outward affliction of bodie, or ſome inward anguiſh of mind. For example the Prophet Dauid confeſſeth that when Gods hand was heauie vponupon him day and night his prayers were but roarings. Pſal. 32.3.Pſal. 32.3. So Ezechias faith, that whē he ſhould hauehave praied he chattered like a Crane or a Swallow, & mourned as a Doue, Eſa. 38.14.Eſa. 38.14. And the poore Publicāe oppreſſed with the heauy burthē of his ſins in ſtead of a long & eloquent ſpeach vttereth theſe fewe wordes; O God be mercifull vntounto me a ſinner, and yet our Sauiour Chriſt teſtifieth of him that he receaued the remiſſion of his ſinnes and went home iuſtified.Luke 18.13.14. Luk. 18.13.14. Neither in trueth doth the Lord regard the eloquence of the tongue, but the earneſtneſſe of the hart, he reſpecteth not our well couched wordes and ſmooth vttered ſtile, but the feruencie of the ſpirit, and our humble and harty deſires, which are acceptably heard of him though our tongues bee ſilent. The ſacrifices of God are not eloquent wordes but a contrite ſpirit, a contrite and broken heart will not the Lord deſpiſe. Pſal. 51.17.as it is Pſal. 51.17. The prayers indited by Gods ſpirite which alſo are according to the will of God, conſiſt not in the wordes of the mouth, but in the ſighes of the heart which cannot bee expreſſed,Rom. 8.26. as the Apoſtle teacheth vsus. Rom. 8.26. And therefore if wee offer vntounto God an humble and contrite ſpirit, if wee can ſigh and grone earneſtly, deſiring thoſe things wee want according to his holy will, though wee cannot expreſſe our mindes in any good order or in a continued forme of ſpeech, yet if wee can from our hartes roare with Dauid, chatter with Ezechias and vtter this abrupt ſpeech with the poore publicane, O God bee mercifull vntounto mee a ſinner, the Lorde will heare vsus and that as ſpeedily as though we could pray vntounto him with the eloquence of men and angels. For to what end principally ſerue wordes, but that wee may by them expreſſe our mindes to men who otherwiſe could not vnderſtand them; but the Lorde who ſearcheth the hartes vnderſtandeth our ſighes which cannot bee expreſſed,Rom. 8.26. as it is Rom. 8.26.27. and hee knowes our thoughts long before wee thinke them, as the pſalmiſt ſpeaketh Pſal. 139.2.Pſal. 139.2. Hee is a ſpirit yea an allſeeing ſpirit, and therefore our prayers vntounto him are the deſires of the heart, neither doth our wordes ſerue to perſwade him, but to ſtirre vp our owne dul ſpirits, and to keepe vsus from diſorderly wandring thoughts.Exod. 14.15 So that if wee can with Moſes lift vp our hearts vntounto God with earneſt deſires, this will bee a ſtrong crie in the eares of the Lorde, and hee will ſurely heare it. If we can vnfainedly ſay with the prophet Dauid. Pſal. 38.9.Pſal. 38.9. Lorde I powre my whole deſire before thee, and my ſighing is not hid from thee, we may be aſſured he will heare vsus and graunt our requeſt, for he heareth the deſire of the poore, he prepareth their hart and bendeth his eare vntounto them. Pſal. 10.17as it is pſal. 10.17. yea hee doth not only heare them and in ſome ſort incline to their requeſt, but hee will fulfill the deſire of them that feare him, hee will heare their crie and ſaue them. as the ſame prophet ſpeaketh. Pſal. 145.19.Pſal. 145.19 We know that a kind louing father if he ſee his ſonne exceeding ſicke wilbe verie carefull and tender ouer him, to prouide all things neceſſarie for him which may doe him good, and though with a faultering tongue and vnperfect ſpeech hee aſke any thing which is profitable for him to receiue, yet how readily will hee harken vntounto him and graunt his deſire? yea if his ſickneſſe ſo increaſe that hee becommeth ſpeechleſſe vttering nothing but deepe grones, euen this language moues him to no leſſe care in vſing all meanes which may doe him good. Shall then wee daily obſerue ſuch fruites of louelove in ſinfull man, and ſhall wee doubt of finding leſſe in the Lord, who is infinite in louelove, merciemercy, and goodneſſe, farre bee it from vsus. Nay let vsus aſſure our ſelues, that though (our ſoules being ſicke in ſinne, and exceedingly dulled and beaten downe with ſome grieuous tentation) we cannot vtter any thing but vnperfect ſpeeches, yea though wee are through the grieuouſneſſe of our affliction and greatneſſe of our corruption ſtrucken dumbe and can vtter nothing but grones and ſighes, yet if wee deſire to be freed out of this wretched caſe and to hauehave the comfort of Gods ſpirit, the Lord who ſearcheth the hart and vnderſtandeth our ſecret thoughts wil harken vntounto vsus and graunt the deſires of our hart, at leaſt ſo farre forth as it will ſtand with his owne glorie and our euerlaſting good.
§. Sect. 3 Thirdly whereas others complaine that their hartes are ſo harde and their ſpiritts ſo dull,Conſolations for ſuch as bewaile their coldneſſe and dulneſſe in prayer. that they cannot vtter vntounto God a prayer with any earneſtneſſe or feruencie of ſpirit, but exceeding coldly and verie weakely, and therefore they feare that God will neuer heare them; they are to remember that the Lord heareth vsus not nor graunteth our requeſts for the worthineſſe and excellencie of our prayers, but for his ſonne Ieſus Chriſts ſake who is our mediatour and interceſſour in whoſe name we cal vponupon God; and therefore though our prayers bee full of infirmities and vttered with much weakneſſe, yet calling vponupon the Lord in our ſauiours name hee will ſurely heare vsus as our ſauiour hath promiſed.Ioh. 16.23. Ioh. 16.23. Verily, verily I ſay vntounto you whatſoeuer ye ſhall aſke the father in my name he will giuegive it you. Moreouer we are to know that we do not offer vp our prayers immediately vntounto God the father, but by the mediation of Ieſus Chriſt, who putting our prayers into the goulden vialls which are full of the precious odours of his merites, thereby perfumeth them and maketh thē an offering of ſweet ſmelling ſauour vntounto God;Apoc. 5.8. & by waſhing them in his owne moſt precious blood he purgeth them from all their corruptions and perfecteth all their wants and inperfections, ſo as now though not in themſelues yet in him they will bee acceptable vntounto God and hee will mercifully graunt our petitions.
§. Sect. 4 Fourthly whereas others complaine that their mindes are carried away with worldly diſtractions and wandring imaginations when they are making their prayers vntounto God;Conſolations for ſuch as bewaile their diſtractions and wandring thoughts in prayer. they are to knowe that this befalleth alſo euen the deareſt children of God, partly through their owne corruption, and partly through the malice of Sathan who laboureth moſt to interrupt vsus in thoſe holy excerciſes which hee knoweth moſt profitable and effectuall for our ſaluation. Whereof it commeth to paſſe that though diuers howers togeather we can talke of worldly affaires and heare the ſpeech of others without any diſtractiō of mind, or thinking of any thing but of the ſubiect of our preſent ſpeach, yet when we heare God ſpeak vntounto vsus in the preaching of the word, or whē we ſpeak vntounto God in prayer and ſupplication, our mindes wander hether and thether though wee ſtriue neuer ſo much to containe them, becauſe through our natural corruption wee are ſoone wearie of theſe holy excerciſes, and Sathan is ſtill at hand to ſuggeſt into our minds wandring thoughts in which we take moſt delight, but this ſhould not diſcourage vsus from taking in hand theſe holy actions, but rather the conſideration hereof ſhould ſtrongly moue and prouoke vsus to more earneſtnes care and diligence ſo as Sathan may not preuaile againſt vsus; & if notwithſtāding ſometimes nay often we receaue a foile, let it be an occaſiō to moue vsus to take the more paines & to make a double requeſt vntounto God, not onelyonly that he will graunt vntounto vsus thoſe things which we deſire, but alſo that for Chriſts ſake he will pardon our ſins & infirmities in that wee hauehave begged them ſo coldly and negligently.
§. Sect. 5 Laſtly, whereas our ſpirituall enemy taketh occaſion altogether to diſcourage vsus from vndertaking theſe ſpirituall exerciſesThat our wants and infirmities in prayer, ſhould not make vsus neglect this holy exerciſe. becauſe therein wee bewray notable corruptions and cannot though we ſtriue neuer ſo much performe them as we ought, let vsus in no caſe yeeld vntounto this tentation, but ſtrongly arme our ſelues againſt it; and to this end let vsus conſider that if Sathan can perſwade vsus to deſiſt from perfourming thoſe duties altogether which wee cannot performe as we ought, but with great weakeneſſe, corruption, and imperfection, we ſhall doe nothing at all which God requireth of vsus, for example the Lord commaundeth vsus to louelove him with all our hearts, and with all our ſoule, and with all our ſtrength, which dutie of louelove wee perfourme with great weakneſſe and exceeding coldly; but becauſe wee can not doe it as God requireth and as we ought, ſhall wee not therefore doe it at all? God forbid. So the Lord commaundeth vsus to truſt and to put our whole affiance in him, but we are readie to reſt and relie vponupon the arme of fleſh and inferiour meanes, either in whole or at leaſt in part, and when they faile vsus, our truſt in God is very weake and mingled with much diffidence and doubting, but ſhall we therefore put no affiance in God, all becauſe we cannot doe it ſo perfectly as God requireth? be it farre from vsus. So in the verie like maner the Lord expreſſly chargeth and commandeth vsus to cal vponupon his holy name, which dutie oftentimes we perfourme coldly and negligently, hauing our minds carried away with wandring thoughts and worldly imaginations, but ſhall ſathan working vponupon our own corruption therefore perſwade vsus altogeather to deſiſt from this holy exerciſe? no, in no caſe let vsus not yeeld to this temptation. For it is not left vntounto vsus at our owne choiſe as a thing indifferent to pray or not to pray, but it is a notable parte of Gods worſhip and ſeruice, and a ſingular dutie which the Lord expreſly inioyneth vsus to perfourme, whereunto he hath adioyned moſt comfortable promiſes which depend not vponupon our worthineſſe, and the excellencie of our praiers, but on his owne free mercy and goodneſſe, and the merits and interceſſion of our Sauiour Chriſt.Pſal. 50.15. So Pſal. 50.15. Call vponupon mee in the day of trouble, ſo will I deliuer thee and thou ſhalt glorifie mee. And Matth. 7.7. Aske and it ſhalbe giuen you. Matth. 7.7.And Ioh. 16.23. Ʋerily, verily I ſay vntounto you, whatſoeuer you ſhal aske the father in my name hee will giuegive it you, Ioh. 16.23.24.24. aske and ye ſhall receiue that your ioy may be full. And the Apoſtle Paul chargeth vsus. 1. Theſ. 5.17. that we pray continually. Seeing therefore the Lord expreſly requireth this dutie at our hands;1. Theſ. 5.17. though our infirmities and corruptions be neuer ſo great, let vsus labour continually to performe it, aſſuring our ſelues that if in obedience to his commaundement we call vpō him, and labour and ſtriue againſt thoſe corruptions, which ſhew themſelues vntounto vsus in this holy action, he that hath inioyned vsus this dutie will alſo giuegive vntounto vsus his holy ſpirit, if we will attend his leaſure which wil teach vsus how to pray according to Gods wil with ſighes and grones, which cānot be expreſſed, whereas on the other ſide if our infirmities and corruptions wholy diſcourage vsus, from performing this dutie we ſhall grieuouſly ſinne againſt God in tranſgreſſing his commaundement, and in robbing him of a chiefe part of his worſhip and ſeruice, and alſo wee ſhall plunge our ſelues into a moſt deſperate eſtate, adioyning our ſelues vntounto the number of thoſe wicked Atheiſts of whom the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh, who call not vponupon God. Pſal. 53.4.
And ſo much for anſwering thoſe tentations which Sathan and our corruption doe ſuggeſt to diſcourage vsus from the ſeruice of God,Pſal. 53.4. §. Sect. 6. Of the ſecond kind of ſenſible hardneſſe of hart. which hauehave their occaſion and ground from our hardneſſe of hart, and drowſie dulneſſe, and deadneſſe in perfourming theſe holy exerciſes. The other kind of ſenſible hardneſſe of hart is ſeuered from the vſe of theſe holy meanes; for ſometimes it commeth to paſſe eſpecially in the ſpiritual combate of temptation, that euen Gods deare children are ſo beſotted & aſtoniſhed, through the violence of the temptations of Sathan, and huge waight of their owne corruptions, that they cannot indeauour in no ſort to vſe theſe meanes, whereby they might be comforted and releeued in this wretched eſtate, as the hearing of the word, calling vponupon Gods name, meditating in the Scriptures, and holy cōferences; yea theſe holy exerciſes ſeeme for a time odious and loathſome vntounto them, vntill it pleaſe the Lord by his owne good ſpirit to awaken and raiſe them vp out of this ſpirituall trance, and to giuegive vntounto them againe the feeling of his grace and fauour, and good motions & abilities to ſerue him, and reape comfort vntounto themſelues, by theſe holy duties. In the meane time ſuch are to ſupport themſelues from falling into vtter deſperation by calling to their remēbrance their ſtate and condition in times paſt, for if euer they hauehave had any delight in the holy exerciſes of religion, prayer, hearing the word & godly conferences, if euer they could diſcerne in themſelues any faith by the true fruits of ſanctification they may take comfort thereby, aſſuring themſelues that they ſhall againe be reſtored vntounto their former eſtate, for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, Rom. 11.29 Ioh. 13.1.and thoſe whom he hath once loued, he loueth vntounto the end. An example hereof we hauehave in Dauid, who being troubled and full of anguiſh in his ſpirit, his ſoule refuſing all comfort, and being ſo aſtoniſhed that he could not ſpeake, yet hee conſidered the daies of old, and the yeares of ancient time,Pſal. 77.2.3.4. hee called to remēbrance his former ſonges in the night, occaſioned by the great benefits which the Lord had beſtowed vponupon him, & ſo knowing that the Lord was vnchangeable in his mercy and goodneſſe, he releeued his poore ſoule, which was ready to faint vnderunder the heauy waight of preſent afflictions. And thus alſo Iob being brought through the violence of thoſe heauie croſſes which the Lord laied vponupon him, euen to the brinke of deſperation, ſo that hee ſpared not to vtter in the bitterneſſe of his ſouie, fearefull curſes and moſt impatient ſpeaches comming neere vntounto blaſphemie, oftentimes comforteth himſelfe by calling to minde his former integritie and righteouſneſſe, whoſe example if the poore humbled ſoules will follow they may rayſe themſelues with true comfort, when they are ſunke downe vnderunder their heauie burthen of preſent corruptions.