The Christian Warfare Part 1, Book 1 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI. Of Prayer.
§. Sect. 1 THe laſt and chiefe meanes wherby we may both defend our ſelues and offend our enemie,Eph. 6.18. That prayer is the meanes of obtaining Gods aſſiſtance, and the reſt of the ſpirituall armour. is feruent and effectual prayer, which the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus to vſe, Eph. 6.18. And pray alwaies with &c. The neceſſitie and profit of which exerciſe is exceeding great in this ſpirituall combat, becauſe thereby we doe obtaine all our ſtrength to fight, and victorie alſo ouer our enemies. For firſt wee cannot endure the leaſt aſſault of Sathan by our owne ſtrength, vnleſſe wee be armed with the power of Gods might, as before I hauehave ſhewed. And the Lords aſſiſtance, whereby onelyonly we can ouercome, is obtained by earneſt and effectuall prayer, according to that Pſal. 50.15. Call vponupon me in the day of trouble; Pſal. 50.15.ſo will I deliuer thee, and thou ſhalt glorifie me. And our Sauiour preſcribeth vsus this meanes to free our ſelues from temptation, or at leaſt from being ouercome by them, by crauing the Lords aſſiſtance, ſaying, Leade vsus not into temptation, Matth. 6.13.but deliuer vsus from euill, Matth. 6.13. So hee exhorteth his diſciples vntounto prayer, leaſt they ſhould enter into temptation. Luk. 22.40.Luk. 22.40, 46.
Secondly, we cannot obtaine the ſpirituall armour (before deſcribed) by any meanes of our owne, but thoſe graces of Gods ſpirit are his gifts, from whom eueryevery good and perfect gift deſcendeth,Iam. 1.17. Iam. 1.17. and therefore are to be begged at his hands by earneſt and effectuall prayer, we hauing his gracious promiſe,Matth. 7.7. that if we aske we ſhall receiue, Math. 7.7. And our Sauiour hath aſſured vsus, that whatſoeuer wee aske the father in his name,Ioh. 16.23. he will giuegive it vsus, Ioh. 16.23. And to this his promiſe he addeth his commandement in the verſe following, ſaying,Verſ. 24. Luk. 11.13. Aske and you ſhall receiue. Yea, if we doe but truly deſire the holy Ghoſt, the Father will giuegive him vntounto vsus, Luk. 11.13. And hee commeth not alone, but bringeth with him our ſpirituall armour, euen all his graces fit for to arme vsus in the ſpirituall combat, againſt all the aſſaults of Sathan and his aſſiſtants.
§. Sect. 2 But whereas theſe graces are in this life but weake and imperfect in vsus;The reſt of the ſpirituall armour is not ſufficient without prayer. our truth being mixt with will-worſhip and hypocriſie, the puritie of our conſcience being ſtained with our corruption; our knowledge of the Goſpell but in part, and ſhadowed with the vaile of ignorance; our faith mixt with doubting, and weakened with incredulitie; our hope ſhaken from our anker-hold, when the promiſes of God are delaied; and whereas we alſo are vnskilfull to vſe this ſpiritual armour for our beſt aduantage; therefore it behooueth vsus after wee hauehave armed our ſelues at all points, not to truſt altogether in our armour, but to hauehave our recourſe vntounto our grand Captaine Chriſt Ieſus, acknowledging our owne weakeneſſe, and deſiring his aide and aſſiſtance, that being armed with his power, we may obtaine a glorious victorie ouer our ſpirituall enemies. And as Moſes ioyned with Ioſuahs ſword his owne effectual prayer, which was of farre greater efficacie; for when he held vp his hands in prayer, Iſrael preuailed; but when he fainted, Amaleck had the vpper hand: ſo wee being to fight againſt the ſpirituall Amalekites, are not wholie to truſt in our ſpirituall weapons, but we are to implore continually the Lords aſſiſtance by heartie prayer, aſſuring our ſelues that if we lift vp our hands and hearts vntounto God, we ſhal in the end obtaine a full victorie; but if we faint, the ſpirituall Amaleck will preuaile againſt vsus. Whileſt our mindes lie groueling on the earth, it is an eaſie matter for theſe ſpirituall wickedneſſes to ouercome vsus, ſeeing they fight againſt vsus from high places; but if wee lift vp our hearts in prayer vntounto God, our mindes and ſoules ſhall be as it were tranſported into heauen, which is a tower of ſtrength, into which our ſpirituall enemies cannot approch. Whenſoeuer therefore wee are aſſaulted by Sathan, let vsus lift vp our ſoules into heauen by effectuall prayer, and ſo we ſhall be out of his reach.
§. Sect. 3 Now that our prayers may bee effectuall, there are diuers conditions and properties required in them by the Apoſtle in this place. Firſt, that wee pray continually,Luk. 18.1. 1. Theſſ. 5.17. The properties required in prayer. which alſo our Sauiour Chriſt enioyneth vsus, Luk. 18.1. And Paul alſo 1. Theſſ. 5.17. not that wee muſt neglect all other exerciſes and doe nothing but pray; for there is a time to heare the word, to do the workes of merciemercy and of our callings; but his meaning is that we be alwaies readie to pray vponupon all good occaſions: eſpecially in the time of temptation this dutie is required, according to that Pſal. 50.15.Pſal. 50.15. And therefore the Apoſtle ſaith not, that wee muſt pray foreign, in eueryevery particular time and ſeaſon, but foreign, in eueryevery fit time when iuſt occaſion and opportunitie is offered. Seeing therefore in the time of temptation we doe eſpecially need the Lords helpe; therfore, that aboue al other is the opportune and conuenient time wherein we are to implore the Lords aſſiſtance. Where by the way the ſtinted prayers of the popiſh rabble, which they reſtraine to ſet houres is confuted, for the Apoſtle willeth vsus alwaies to be in readines when any fit occaſion is offered.
The ſecond thing required, is, that wee pray with all manner of prayers and ſupplication. The former word here vſed is foreign, which ſignifieth the earneſt deſiring of any good thing: the other is foreign, which is the deprecation of ſome euill; ſo that whether wee want any thing that is good, or would be deliuered from any thing which is euill, wee muſt hauehave recourſe vntounto God by prayer, that we may obtaine the one and auoide the other; but more eſpecially when we feele the want or weaknes of any part of the ſpirituall armour, the graces of Gods ſpirit, wee are to begge them at Gods hand, that ſo wee may be enabled to ſtand in the encounter; and when wee apprehend the extreame malice, ioyned with the great power and cunning policie of our ſpirituall enemies, wee are earneſtly to pray that the Lord will not leade vsus into temptation; or if he doe, yet that he will not ſuffer vsus to fall therein and to be ouerthrowne. And theſe our prayers muſt not onelyonly be publike in the Church, but alſo priuate in our chambers; neither muſt wee be alwaies begging theſe benefits at Gods hand, but hauing obtained them, we muſt be as readie to giuegive him thankes, and to aſcribe the glorie of all vntounto him, who is the author and beſtower of all vertue and grace which is in vsus; and ſo calling vponupon God with all manner of prayer, he will be continually readie to aſſiſt vsus in our ſpirituall combat.
The third thing required, is, that we pray in or by the ſpirit, for the word here vſed may ſignifie both. Firſt therefore we muſt pray in the ſpirit; to which is required firſt that we pray with vnderſtanding; in which reſpect the ignorant Papiſts offend, who pray in an vnknowne tongue; and the ignorant Proteſtants alſo, who though they pray in their owne language, yet know not the ſenſe and meaning of that they ſpeake.
Secondly, that we pray with attentiue mindes, ioyning our hearts with our tongues, and thoughts with words, to which is oppoſed the prayer of the lippes alone, when as wee draw neere vntounto God with our mouthes, our hearts in the meane time being farre from him,Eſa. 29.13. as it is Eſa. 29.13. Which kinde of prayer is odious and abominable vntounto God: for what more groſſe diſcord than when the tongue and heart diſagree from one another, which ſhould be tuned in vniſone? And as the carcaſſe being ſeuered from the ſoule is preſently corrupt and ſtinketh; ſo the prayer of the lips being ſeuered from the prayer of the heart, which is the life and ſoule of it, is but a dead carcaſſe of prayer, and ſtinketh in Gods noſtrels.
Thirdly, that we pray with a pure conſcience and faith vnfained, lifting vp pure hands to God, 1. Tim. 2.8.without wrath or doubting, as it is 1. Tim. 2.8. to which is oppoſed prayer proceeding from a polluted conſcience, when as men liue in their ſinnes without any true ſorrow for thoſe which are paſt, or any ſincere purpoſe to forſake them in the time to come; which prayers muſt needes proceede from an heart full of incredulitie, ſeeing they hauehave no promiſe in the word whereupon they may ground their faith: nay, contrariwiſe it is ſaid, that God heareth not ſinners, Ioh. 9.31. that is,Ioh. 9.31. ſuch as go on in their ſinnes without repentance, hauing no purpoſe of heart to leaue and forſake them.
And thus you ſee what it is to pray in the ſpirit, which wee cannot perfourme, vnleſſe we pray through and by the ſpirit of God, which helpeth our infirmities, and teacheth vsus to pray as wee ought, yea it ſelfe maketh requeſt for vsus with ſighes which cannot be expreſſed,Rom. 8 26. §. Sect. 4. Of watchfulnes Matth. 26. as it is Rom. 8.26.
The fourth thing required is watchfulnes; which dutie is required ioyntly with prayer in many places. Our Sauiour three times ioyneth them together, ſaying, Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation, Matth. 26. And the Apoſtle Peter 1. Epiſt 4.7. ſaith, Now the end of all things is at hand: 1. Pet. 4.7.Be ye therefore ſober and watching vntounto prayer. As though hee ſhould ſay, your enemie the diuell as a roring lion walketh about, ſeeking whom he may deuoure, and therefore it behooueth you at all times like valiant and carefull ſouldiers, who are ſtill in daunger to be aſſaulted by their enemies, to be ſober and watch,1. Pet 5.8. as it is 1. Pet. 5.8. but now more eſpecially ſeeing the end of all things is at hand, for Sathan knowing that his time is but ſhort, will redouble all his forces to work our deſtruction, euen as ſouldiers will moſt fiercely aſſault a town, when as they cannot long lie at the ſiege, either by reaſon of winter drawing on, or the approching of new forces to relieue the towne or raiſe the ſiege. Seeing therefore Sathan redoubleth his force and care in working our deſtruction, let vsus redouble our care and watchfulnes in ſeeking to preuent his force and malice. For if Sathan watch continually that he may murther vsus, ſhall not wee be watchfull in withſtanding his aſſaults? He is continually in armes to ouerthrow vsus, and ſhall not wee watch night and day in our Chriſtian armour, that we may defeate his forces and obtaine victorie?
Now this our watchfulnes is partly of the bodie, and partly of the ſoule. The bodily watching is the abſtaining from naturall ſleepe, to the end that wee may giuegive our ſelues vntounto prayer;Pſal. 6.6. Pſal. 88.1. when as with Dauid we water our couch with teares, Pſal. 6.6. and call vponupon God not onelyonly in the day, but in the night alſo, as it is Pſal. 88.1. And whē as euen at midnight we rouze vp our ſelues to giuegive thankes vntounto God for his merciemercy and benefits,Pſal. 119.62. as it is Pſal. 119.62. The watchfulnes of the ſoule is when as wee doe not ſleepe in our ſinnes, being rocked in the cradle of carnall ſecuritie, but ſhake off our drowſines by vnfained repentance, riſing vp to newnes of life. And to this watchfulnes the Apoſtle exhorteth vsus Eph. 5.14. Awake thou that ſleepeſt, Eph. 5.14.and ſtand vp from the dead, and Chriſt ſhall giuegive thee light, &c. for wee are dead in our ſinnes, till Chriſt by his ſpirit mortifie them and reuiue vsus,Eph. 2.1. raiſing vsus vp to newnes of life, as it is Eph. 2.1. Though therefore wee take our reſt and ſleepe in that meaſure which nature requireth,1. Theſſ. 5.6. yet let vsus not ſleepe as doe other, (to wit, in carnall ſecuritie) but let vsus watch and be ſober, as it is 1. Theſſ. 5.6. becauſe in this reſpect it is time that we ſhould ariſe from ſleepe, for the darke night of ignorance is paſt; and the bright ſun-ſhine day of the Goſpel is come,Rom. 13.12. &c. let vsus therefore caſt away the workes of darknes, and let vsus put on the armour of light: So that we walke honeſtly as in the day: not in gluttony and drunkennes, neither in chambering and wantonneſſe, nor in ſtrife and enuying: but putting on the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, taking no thought for the fleſh, to fulfill the lusts thereof, as it is Rom. 13.12, 13, 14.
And this is the Chriſtian watch which we are to ioyne with prayer: but as I would not hauehave vsus put our whole confidence in the ſpirituall armour, ſo much leſſe in our owne care and watchfulnes; for wee muſt relie our ſelues vponupon God onelyonly, deſiring him to watch ouer vsus while we ſleepe; but yet with the Lords aſſiſtance wee muſt ioyne our endeuour, and not drowſily and ſleepely receiue his aide: and as the godly huſbandman expecteth the fruites of the earth from the bleſſing of God, and yet notwithſtanding vſeth all paines, care and diligence in plowing, harrowing and ſowing his ground; ſo we are to ſeeke deliuerance from the force and malice of our ſpirituall enemies of God alone, but yet wee are to ioyne our good endeuour carefully and diligently, vſing all the good meanes which are ordained of God for this purpoſe.
§. Sect. 5 The fift thing required is perſeuerance in prayer:Of perſeuerance in praier. for it is not ſufficient to pray earneſtly and feruently for a ſpirt, but we muſt continue therein, expecting the Lords leiſure. And vntounto this we are exhorted Rom. 12.12. continuing in prayer. Rom. 12.12.So the Prophet Dauid perſwadeth to expect and waite for the Lord,Pſal. 27.14. and to bee ſtrong in continuing conſtantlie in our courſe, and then in the end God will comfort our hearts, Pſal. 27.14. And the Apoſtle Paul willeth vsus to pray inceſſantly,1. Theſſ. 5.17. like importunate ſuiters who will hauehave no nay, though they receiue many denials. To this dutie our Sauiour encourageth vsus by the parable of the vnrighteous Iudge, who though hee neither cared for man nor feared God,Luk. 18.1. yet was moued through importunitie to do the poore widow iuſtice; and therefore our heauenly father will much more graunt the importunate ſuites of his elect,VVhy the Lord delaieth to graunt the petitions of his children. eſpecially hauing bound himſelfe thereunto by his moſt gracious promiſes. True it is that the Lord doth many times deferre to graunt the prayers of his children, as though he heard or regarded them not; when as in truth he neuer delayeth any of their lawfull ſuites, vnleſſe it be to this end that hee may thereby either conuay vntounto them greater benefits than they deſire, as when hee giueth ſpirituall graces in ſtead of earthly benefits; or els that thereby he may moue them to pray more feruently, and ſo exerciſe and increaſe their faith, hope and patience; or that he may ſhew theſe his graces to the praiſe of his glorie who hath beſtowed them, both to others and the parties themſelues; or that hee may moue vsus more thankfully to receiue and highly to eſteeme his benefits, after by long ſuite wee hauehave obtained them, which wee would not ſo greatly regard if he beſtowed them at the firſt motion. A notable example hereof we hauehave in the Canaanitiſh woman, both for our comfort and imitation, Matth. 15.Matth. 15. To whoſe prayers our Sauiour Chriſt gaue (as it ſeemed) no eare; and when he did take notice of her ſuite he giueth her a double repulſe, firſt by telling her that he was ſent onelyonly to the loſt ſheepe of the houſe of Iſrael; and when this would not moue her to ſurceaſe her ſuite, he vſeth a more bitter deniall, telling her that it was not fit to take the childrens bread and to caſt it to whelpes: but when ſhe was not hereby diſcouraged, nor her faith extinguiſhed, but rather of a ſparke increaſed to a great flame, at the laſt ſhe doth not onelyonly receiue what ſhe deſired, but alſo was ſent away with great commendation. But wherefore did not our Sauiour graunt her petition at the firſt hearing? Surely not that he grudged her her ſuite, or was loth to entertaine it, but to the end that he might make her more earneſtly implore his helpe, and manifeſt to all the world her ſingular faith; and laſtly, that ſhe might be an example to vsus for our imitation, both to encourage vsus in asking of God the ſupplie of our wants, and alſo to perſeuere in prayer, though at the firſt God ſeemeth not to regard vsus, yea though wee receiue diuers repulſes and many diſcouragements: which if we perfourme wee ſhall hauehave a notable teſtimonie of a true faith, when as we can patiently abide the Lords leiſure, though hee doe deferre his helpe,Eſa. 28.16. for he that beleeueth, will not make haste, as it is Eſa. 28.16. and in the end wee ſhall be ſure to obtaine our godly and honeſt deſires, if not as we would, yet as it ſhal be moſt for our good, and withall eternall bleſſednes. For the Lord is the God of iudgement; and bleſſed are all they that waite for him, Eſa. 30.18.as it is Eſa. 30.18.
When therefore we are aſſaulted by our ſpiritual enemies, and readie to faint in the combat of temptations, let vsus call vponupon the Lord for his aſſiſtance, that wee may be freed from danger and deliuered from them; and if the Lord doe ſeeme to deferre his helpe, and ſuffer vsus ſtill to beare the brunt of the battaile, after wee hauehave many times implored his aſſiſtance, yet let vsus not be diſcouraged, but conſtantly perſeuere in prayer, aſſuring our ſelues that the Lord will either free vsus from the temptation, or els giuegive vsus ſtrength to endure and ouercome it: for hee hath promiſed that he will not ſuffer vsus to be tempted aboue our power, but that he will giuegive a good iſſue to the temptation that wee may be able to beare it, and he is faithfull and true of his word:1. Cor. 10.13. as it is 1. Cor. 10.13. It may be that the Lord wil not quite free vsus from the skirmiſh of temptation, though we hauehave often deſired it of him, either becauſe he would further trie our Chriſtian valour, and exerciſe our faith, or reſtraine vsus from ſinne, eſpecially ſpirituall pride, to which wee are too too ſubiect; as wee may ſee in the example of Paul, who being buffeted by the meſſenger of Sathan, beſought the Lord thrice that he might depart from him: but the Lord anſwered, that his grace which he beſtowed on him was ſufficient, and that his power was made manifeſt in the Apoſtles weaknes, as appeareth 2. Cor. 12.8, 9.1. Cor. 12.8.9. Now the cauſe why the Lord would not altogether releaſe him, was, that he might be humbled hereby, the pricke of the fleſh letting out the winde of vaine glorie, which would hauehave puffed him vp, by reaſon of the multitude of reuelations which hee had receiued. Let vsus not therefore ſend for the Lords aſſiſtance (as it were) by poſte; and preſcribe the Lord a time with the Bethulians, wherein if we be not relieued we will faint and cowardly yeeld: for that which the Prophet ſpeaketh from the Lord concerning the viſion, may fitly bee ſpoken of the Lords aide and helpe; Though it tarie, watch; Hab. 2.3.for it ſhall ſurely come and not ſtay, Habac. 2.3.
§. Sect. 6 The laſt thing required in our prayers, is,Prayer to be made for all the Saints. that wee doe not onelyonly pray for our ſelues, but alſo for all the Saints. For wee are fellow members of the ſame bodie, wee are fellow ſouldiers which fight vnderunder the ſame Captaine Ieſus Chriſt, and conſequently their victorie is our victorie, and their foyles are our foyles. As therefore ſouldiers do not only ſtand vponupon their ſeuerall guards, but ioyne their forces together, whereby it commeth to paſſe, that they who being ſcattered might eaſily be ouercome, hauing vnited their forces are vnreſiſtable; ſo wee are not onelyonly to ſtand vponupon our owne defence, but to ioyne in prayer with the whole Church militant, and then ſhall not our ſpirituall enemies ſtand againſt vsus: for of the praier of one righteous man auaileth much,Iam. 5.16. being feruent and effectuall; of what efficacie and power are the prayers of all the righteous ioyned together?
No armour appointed for the backe.And thus hauehave I deſcribed the Chriſtian armour, which eueryevery man is to put on before hee enter into the combat with our ſpirituall enemies: amongſt all which there is not any peece appointed for the backe, to note vntounto vsus that wee muſt neuer retire, but manfully ſtand to it euen in the face of our enemie. For if wee reſiſt Sathan, he will flee from vsus,Iam. 4.7. Iam. 4.7. but if we giuegive ground and betake our ſelues to flight, he will purſue vsus ſwiftly and deadly wound vsus; for wee hauehave no armour on the backe to defend vsus from the violence of his blowes, neither will the Lord protect ſuch faint-hearted cowards as runne away from his ſtanderd, not daring to truſt and relie vponupon his almightie power and neuer failing aſſiſtance, which he hath promiſed to all that fight his battailes. Seeing therefore there is no ſafetie in flight, and aſſured victorie to thoſe that faint not but endure the brunt of the skirmiſh vntounto the end, let vsus manfully ſtand vponupon our guard, neither fleeing nor yeelding to our ſpirituall enemies; for where can wee be more ſafe, than vnderunder the Lords ſtanderd? where can we be more honourably imployed, than in fighting his battailes? how can our ſtate be more dangerous, than when we flee and Sathan purſueth vsus? how can it be more deſperate, than when wee yeeld our ſelues captiue to Sathan to be bound in the fetters of ſinne, vntill the ſentence of condemnation be pronounced on vsus in the general ſeſſions at the day of Chriſts appearing?