Consolations for the Afflicted, Book 2 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Of the things required in our praiers in respect of their matter, manner, time and continuance.
AND thus much concerning those things§. Sect. 1. That we must in the first place craue the pardon and remission of our sinnes. which respect the person of him that prayeth; In the next place wee are to speake of those things which are required vntounto the prayer it selfe; and these eyther respect the matter of our petitions, the manner, or the time and continuance of this holy exercise. Concerning the matter of our prayers; we are first and principally to desire the pardon and remission of our sinnes; for they are the wall of separation (as I hauehave said) which hinder all our suits from ascending & entring into Gods eares, and his blessings from descending vntounto vsus; they are the poysonous sting of all our afflictions, which being pulled out, they become harmlesse, yea beneficiall and profitable for the aduancing of our spirituall good, and the furthering of our saluation. They are the causes of all our crosses & calamities, which being taken away, eyther our afflictions shall hauehave an end, or of crosses be turned into comforts; and of noysome euils, become ioyful blessings. Whereas contrariwise if our sinnes remaine vnpardoned, euen our freedome from our afflictions, is but a bondage, Gods sparing of vsus, a greeuous punishment; and the greatest misery, to bee freed from misery; seeing wee are left of God as a desperate cure, because the Physicke of affliction will doe vsus no good, and giuen vp vntounto the hardnesse of our owne hearts, to run on in our wicked courses which lead to destruction, without checke and controlement. And hereof it is that the faithful being in affliction obserue this vsuall method in their prayers, first to acknowledge their sinnes, and then to craue pardon for them, and deliuerance from their crosses and calamities. So Daniel in that excellent prayerDan. 9. which he maketh for Gods afflicted Church and people, maketh first an humble confession of their sinnes, and then prayeth for mercy and the turning away of Gods wrath, & for their deliuerance and restoring out of the land of theirPsal. 6. 1. 2. 4. captiuity. And Dauid ioyneth these together praying first for the appeasing of Gods wrath and anger▪ and for merciemercy in regard of his sinnes, and then desireth to bee healed, deliuered and saued out of his affliction and tribulation. So elswhere he desireth the Lord to looke vponupon his affliction & trauell, Psalm. 25. 18.but because though he beheld it, yet he would not pitty him, so long as his guilt and faultines remained, therefore hee addeth; and forgiue me all my sinnes. And in the one and fiftieth Psalme hee laboureth earnestly for the pardon of his sinnes, and maketh humble confession of his wickednesse, and then beggeth for the comfort and ioy of Gods spirit. Yea this order was obserued by our heauenly Physitian in the curing of bodily infirmities and diseases, first to take away the cause of their sicknesse, Sonne be of good comfort, Matth. 9. 2. 6thy sins are forgiuen thee, and then the sicknesse it selfe, Arise, take vp thy bed, and goe to thine house.
And thus hauing craued and obtained the pardon and remission§. Sect. 2. Whether we may lawfully pray for deliuerance from affliction, and after what manner. of our sinnes, in respect of their guilt: in the next place we may desire to bee freed from the punishment; for that wee may lawfully pray for our deliuerance out of our afflictions, euen common sense and the instinct of nature teacheth vsus, mouing vsus to flee and auoide whatsoeuer hurteth vsus, and to follow and imbrace whatsoeuer is helpefull and profitable. And this naturall appetite of shunning euill, and seeking our owne good, is further warranted by Gods expresse commandement, enioyning vsus in the time of ourPsal. 50. 15 afflictions to call vponupon him for helpe and deliuerance. VntoUnto which we may adde the example of the Saints from time to time, who hauehave prayed against these crosses and calamities when they saw them approaching; and for deliuerance out of them after they were inflicted; which is so common and vsuall in the Scriptures, that it is but lost labour to produce examples; only that example of our Sauiour Christ aboue al exception is sufficient in it selfe; who as hee vsed all good meanes to preserue himselfe from affliction and persecution; so he earnestly prayed vntounto his father, that the bitter cup of his passion might passe from him. But howsoeuer wee may lawfully pray against afflictions before they come, or for deliuerance out of them when they are inflicted; yet not absolutely and without any condition or exception; for thus onelyonly wee must pray against sinne which is simply euill, and in it owne nature, without any respect of good; and for spirituall graces and eternall life and happinesse which are simply good, and hauehave in them no respect of euill. But as temporary and earthly benefits are not simply good, but being mutable and liable to our abuse, become vntounto vsus through our corruption, not onelyonly vaine and vnprofitable, but also hurtfull and pernicious; so these momentanie crosses and afflictions, are no… simply and absolutely euill, but through the infinite wisdome, goodnesse and power of God, disposing and ordering them, become to the faithfull exceeding good and profitable (as we shall afterwards shew at large) and that both for the manifesting and aduancing of Gods glory, and the furthering and assuring of our saluation. And therefore wee must not simply pray against them, because so wee should pray against Gods glory and our owne euerlasting good, but onelyonly so farre forth as they tend to the hurt or hindrance of either of them. Againe the promises of God, which in all our prayers are the onelyonly ground and foundation of our faith, are not in respect either of temporary and worldly benefits, or deliuerance from these momentany crosses and afflictions, absolute and without limitation; but alwaies restrained to the condition of his owne glory, and our spirituall good and eternall saluation; and therefore in all our prayers, this condition is either to be expressed or vnderstood, because wee are no otherwise to aske it then he hath promised it. Neither were it in truth a benefit to receiue freedome from our misery and tribulation, when as it will not stand with the glory of God & our owne saluation, but rather an exceeding great iudgment and punishment; and consequently it should rather be a terrible threatning, then a comfortable promise, if the Lord should tel vsus that he would thus deliuer vsus. And therefore he doth not promise vsus all things which wee desire, nor to deliuer vsus from all things which wee abhorre and feare, for this were the part of an indulgent and cockering parent, who desireth to please his childe in his foolish wantonnesse for the present, rather then to seek his profit & good for euer after; but rather like a wise, discreet, and truely louing father he promiseth, that if we feare and seeke vntounto him, nothing shall be wanting vntounto vsus which is good; and that either hePsal. 34. 10. Rom. 8. 28. will not afflict vsus at all, or else that he will by his power and wisdome conuert all our crosses and calamities, to our comfort and benefit. And as the learned and faithfull Physitian, or skilfull Surgeon, doe not promise their patients which are full of corrupt humours, or indangered with old and festered sores, that they will not distaste their appetite, or any way molest and trouble them; but only that they will effect the cure, and to this purpose vse both the best and easiest meanes and medicines which they can; and as the wise patient is well satisfied with this promise, being contented rather to suffer for the present a litle smart and paine, then to hazard his life by neglect of the meanes, or to hauehave his sore turne to a fistul… or incurable cancer. So the Lord doth not promise, that he will not at all afflict vsus, but that our afflictions shall not hurt vsus; not that wee shall feele no smart or paine, but that he wil cure and saue vsus by the best meanes which will stand with his owne glory and our good. And therefore like wise patients we are to desire, not that he will please our appetites, but that hee will effect a perfect cure, not that he wil at our pleasure pul off the corrasiue or working salue of affliction and tribulation, but when it hath drawne out the core of our corruptions, and made vsus fit for the healing playsters of his mercies and gracious benefits. For otherwise if wee would enlarge Gods promises according to our owne lusts and foolish fantasies, and desire that which is pleasing to our carnall appetits, and not that which is good and profitable; our carefull father will not harken vntounto vsus. And if in the frensie fit of our distempered passion, we either desire things hurtfull for vsus (as it were cold water in a burning feauer) or would hauehave the vnpleasing plaisters of tribulation remoued, or the bitter potion of affliction taken from vsus, which our wise Physitian hath appointed for the effecting of the cure; he will not regard our suits, seeing he desireth rather to cure vsus, then to please vsus; and regardeth our well grounded request, which out of a setled and sound iudgment wee made vntounto him, namely, that he would vse the best meanes for the purging of our corruptions, the recouery of our spirituall health, and the euerlasting saluation of our soules; rather then a new motion arising from our present sense; whereby in a rauing maner we prefer our bodies, before our soules; and freedome from present and momentanie smart and paine, before deliuerance from neuer ending torments, and our euerlasting saluation in the life to come. And therefore, if we would hauehave our prayers heard in our afflictions, wee must pray for that which God hath promised; not absolutely that crosses may not befall vsus, or that being inflicted we may bee deliuered out of them; but conditionally, if this our suite will stand with Gods glory and our saluation; not that they may not happen, but that they may not hurt vsus; not that wee may be quite exempted from sense of paine; for this perhaps would hinder the cure, and cause vsus to rot in our corruptions; but that like a wise, faithfull and pitifull Physitian, he will handle vsus as gently as possibly he may, so as in the meane time the medicines vsed may bee effectuall for the purging of our corruptions, and recouery of our health. For thus (as one saith) God deliuereth his from tribulation, not that it may not at all befall vsus, but that when it happeneth, it may not harme vsus, and thatDeus suos liberat à tribulatione, non quidem ne veniat, sed ne laedat, ne noceat, ne tanga… te malum, &c. Bernard in Iob. 5. in sex tribulationibus. Non …rgo exaudiuit dominus Paulum ad voluntatem, quia audiuit ad sanitatem, &c. August. Serm. 53. Tom. 10. we may remaine vntouched of euill. For euen death it selfe, (which in it owne nature is the greatest and last of worldly miseries) will in the end seaze vponupon vsus; but to those whom God loueth, it shall be a sleepe, the gate of life eternall, the beginning of our cōfort and refreshing; and the very ladder whereby we ascend into the ioyes of heauen. To the same purpose another saith well, that God heard Pauls prayer, not according to his will, but so as it stood best with his spirituall wel-fare. And then inferreth, that it is not a thing much to be esteemed; to be heard according to our appetite and desire; but so as it may further our profit and benefit: for euen the Diuels themselues were heard according to their will, when they desired to enter into the heard of Swine; and the cheefe of them had his suite granted, when as hee requested that he might tempt Iob, but it was to this ende, that Iob might be tried, and the tempter confounded, And so the Israelites were heard when they lusted after flesh; but yee know what followed, whilest the meate was in their mouthes. And therefore do not much esteeme it to be heard according to thy will; for sometime God in his anger giueth that which thou desirest; and in his mercy denyeth that which thou askest. But when thou prayest for those things which God commendeth, commandeth and promiseth in the life to come, thou maiest aske securely, and intend thy fuit with all earnestnes, that thou maiest hauehave it heard and granted, as being bestowed by God in his mercy, and not in his anger and displeasure. But when thou askest temporall benefits, aske them with moderation and feare, and commit the issue of thy suit wholy to him, namely that hee will giuegive them if they be profitable, and denye them if they bee hurtfull; for the Physitian knoweth better then the patient what doth hurt him, and what doth helpe him.
The second thing required in our prayers respecteth the§. Sect. 3. The first thing required in respect of the matter is, that wee must come into Gods presence w…th all feare & reuerence. manner how wee are to pray in the time of our afflictions; which is in part touched occasionally in the former section, where I intreated of the matter of our requests, namely, that we must not pray simply and absolutely for deliuerāce, but onelyonly so farre forth as it will stand with Gods glory and our owne spirituall good; not that the burthen of our afflictions should at our pleasure bee taken from our shoulders; but that eyther the Lord would ease vsus of our load, or giuegive vsus strength and patience to beare whatsoeuer it shall please him to lay vponupon vsus. And this vertue of patience and spirituall wisdome we may absolutely and without condition aske of God, both because it is absolutely good and therefore liable to no abuse, but alwaies tendeth to his glory and our saluation; and also because wee hauehave an expresse promise, that if wanting this grace we pray for it, the Lord will giuegive it vntounto vsus liberally; and withall a commandement, that wee aske itIam. 1. 5. 6. in faith & wauer not; because the Lord hath absolutely promised it, and therefore will vndoubtedly bestow it. But besides this there are diuers other things required, which I wil breefly touch, because it is not my purpose to set downe any full treatise of prayer, but onelyonly so much as is necessary for the doctrine of afflictions. As first that we present our selues before God with all feare and reuerence; for if wee bee thus affected when wee come into the presence of an earthly Prince, though he be but a mortall man like vntounto our selues, onelyonly because he is Gods deputy, who hath in him but some small sparks of that infinite maiesty, which is in him whom he representeth; then how much more should wee bee thus affected, when wee come into the presence of God who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords? And this reuerence and respect of his glorious presence, the Lord at all times requireth of vsus, as he is our Father and Master; if (saith hee) I bee a Father where is mine honour, if a master, where is my feare? butMal. 1. 6. Leuit. 10. 3. Psal. 2. 11. especially when we draw neere vntounto him in performing the duties of his seruice, in which respect the Psalmist willeth vsus, to serue the Lord in feare, and to reioyce in trembling. And the wise man counselleth vsus that we doe not performe these duties of Gods worship rashly and irreuerently, Bee not (saith he) rash with thy mouth, nor let thine heart bee hasty, to vtter a Eccles. 5. ….thing before God; for God is in the heauens, and thou art on the earth, therefore let thy words be few. The which argument our Sauiour prefixeth before that perfect forme of prayer, to prepare vsus thereby to call vponupon God with all reuerence; because hee is not onelyonly a Father, but heauenly and the full of all glory and maiesty. Let vsus therefore in the first place present our selues and our prayers before God with al feare and reuerence; and to this end let vsus both consider, what the Lord is before whom we come, namely, a God infinite in maiesty, glory, greatnes, power, seeing all things euen the secret corruptions of our harts, most pure, iust, holy, the creatour and preseruer of all things, &c. And also what we are, namely, vile, wretched, miserable, dust and ashes, wormes and no men, defiled with sinne, and full of all imperfections, with which considerations being humbled, wee shall be the better fitted to receiue mercy and helpe from God. For hee giueth his grace to the humble, & dwelleth with those who are of a contrite spirit.Esa. 57. 15. § Sect. 4. The 2. thing required is that we pray in truth
Secondly, God requireth that we pray in truth; whereby I doe not onelyonly vnderstand, that we must indeede desire the things we pray for, which is not necessary to be stood on in this place; because there are few hypocrites in suits of this nature, seeing all desire with all their hearts and soules to be freed out of their afflictions; but more especially that wee draw neere vntounto God in the time of our trouble, not onelieEsa. 29. 13. I…h. 4. 23. 24. with our lips, but also with our hearts; that so it may bee a prayer of the heart and soule, as well as of tongue & speech, and be performed not onelyonly with the outward gesture of the body, but also in spirit and truth. For as it is alwaies a thing odious, to bee in our prayers distracted with wandring thoughts; and to hauehave our harts and minds going a roauing after worldly vanities, when our tongues and lips make our suits and petitions vntounto God; so especially when wee fault after this manner in the time of our afflictions, seeing the Lord hath purposely brought vsus into these straights, that we may more seriously, and with greater attention and intention of our minds call vponupon him; and putteth (as it were) these pricks in our sides, that we may the rather be moued to keep the right way without any vaine wandring, or wanton digressions. And if wee doe not thus call vponupon God inQuomodo te audiri a Deo postulas cum te ipse non audias? vis esse deum memorem tui cum rogas, cum tu ipse memor▪ tui non sis? Cyprian. de orat. Domin. truth, with our hearts, as well as with our tongues, we can hauehave no assurance that our petitions shall be heard or regarded of God; for (as one saith) how can wee desire that the Lord should heare vsus, when wee doe not heare our selues? Or how can wee hope that God will regard our suites which wee make vntounto him, when we our selues doe not regard them? especially considering that the Lord hath restrained his promise of hearing our prayers vntounto those onelyonly, who doe in truth call vponupon him, for as the Psalmist saith, the Lord is neere vntounto all them that call vponupon him; yea Psalm. 145. 18.to all that call vponupon him in truth. As therefore in the time of the Law, when for their sinnes they were to offer vp vntounto God whole burnt offerings, it was not enough, that they offered vp the outward parts alone, but they must also burne the very aLeuit. 1. 13.intrailes and bowels: so when in the time of our tribulation wee offer vp this sacrifice of prayer, let vsus as well lift vp our bPsalm. 25. 1.hearts and soules, as our hands and eyes; and pray as wel with the mind c1. Cor. 14. 15.and vnderstanding, as with the tongue and voice; or else wee shall heare that iust censure, that we worship God in vaine, and hauehave no assurance that hee will heare our prayers.
Thirdly, wee must pray in faith, whereby wee are to§ Sect. 5. The 3. thing required is that we pray in faith. bee perswaded not onelyonly that our persons▪ are accepted of God as iust and righteous, but also, that our prayers are heard of him, and shall most certainely bee granted beeing framed according to Gods will; more especially we are to beleeue that God in his most seasonable and due time will deliuer vsus out of all our afflictions, and in the meane time will giuegive vsus strength and patience to beare whatsoeuer it shall please him to lay vponupon vsus. And this our faith must bee grounded not vponupon our owne workes and worthinesse, but vponupon Gods gratious and free promises, namely, that if we aske any thing of him in the name of his sonne, according to his will; it shall bee giuen vntounto vsus; and more especially that if 1. Iohn. 5. 14. Psalm. 50. 15. & 91. 15. & 103. 8. 9. Iob. 5. 18. 19.wee call vponupon him in the time of our trouble, hee will deliuer vsus, that wee may glorifie him. That hee will bee with vsus in trouble, heare, deliuer and glorifie vsus, and finally that hee will not alwaies chide nor keepe his anger for euer, as the Psalmist telleth vsus. And this speciall faith thus grounded on Gods promises, is most necessary vntounto our prayers in the time of affliction, because the Lord by his holy Apostle doth require it; for hauing willed vsus, that if wee lacke Wisedome wee aske it of God, who giueth vntounto all men liberally; hee biddeth vsus to aske in faith and wauer Iam. 1. 6. 7.not: for hee that wauereth is like a waue of the Sea, tost of the wind and carried away. Neither let that man thinke that he shall receiue any thing of the Lord. And Secondly because al Gods promises of hearing our prayers are restrained to the condition of saith applying them to our owne vse, for the Lord will not stretch out his hand of bountie and grace to giuegive, if we doe not also stretch out the hand of faith to receiue. And therefore our Sauiour biddeth vsus whatsoeuer wee Mark. 11. 24.desire when we pray, to beleeue that wee shall hauehave it, and it shall be done vntounto vsus. And the Apostle exhorteth vsus in this faith and assurance to goe boldly vntounto the throne of grace, that wee may receiue mercy, and finde grace to helpe in time of need.Heb. 4. 16.
The fourth thing required in the manner of our prayers§ Sect. 6. The fourth thing required is feruency of spirit & earnestnes. Psal. 62. …. 1. Thes. 3. 10, Rom. …. 26. is, that we pray feruently, pouring out our hearts and soules with great ardency and earnestnes in our suites vntounto God; and this is required in all our prayers at all times according to that of the Psalmist, trust in the Lord all ye people, poure out your hearts before him, for God is our hope; and practised by the Apostle, who saith that he prayed vntounto God exceedingly day and night, and to this ende the Lord giues vntounto vsus the assistance of his holy spirit for the helping of our infirmities; that we who know not how to pray as we ought, but are ready naturally to pray with great coldnesse and negligence, may heereby bee inabled to make request vntounto God with fighes and groanes which cannot bee expressed. But especially we are to pray thus feruently and earnestly vntounto God in the time of our afflictions; as it is required of the Church of Iudah in her captiuity and misery. Let teares runne downe Lam. 2. 18. 19.like a riuer day and night: take thee no rest, neyther let the apple of thine eye cease; Arise, cry in the night: in the beginning of the watches poure out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord. Whereby is vnderstood, that like as water, whose course and current hath bene long stopped in a straight and narrow passage, doth swell aboue his banks or breaketh downe the damme which stoppeth it with vnresistable forc… and violence: so must our praiers hauehave the like force and vigour to ouercome all opposition, when we are brought into these straights of affliction & can find no issue out of them. A notable example wherof wee hauehave in Iacob, who being inGene. 32. 24. danger of his brothers rage and violence, is saide to hauehave wrastled with God all the night vntil he had preuailed with him; in which contention hee did not onelyonly vse his bodily strength for the holding fast of the Angel of the couenant, yt he might not depart from him vntil he had obtained his suit, for this would hauehave been a smal & feeble means to hauehave preuailed with God; but as the Prophet Hosea expoundeth it,Hos. 12. 4. by his strength hee had power with God, and ouer the Angell, and preuailed, when as he wept and prayed vntounto him. Thus the Church and people of God, are said in their troubles to hauehave visited God, and to hauehave powred out a prayer when his chastening was vponupon them; and that not coldly & remisly, but like a woman in trauaile, who being in great sorrow and distresse, cryeth out in her paines, as the ProphetEsa. 26. 16. 17. there compareth it. A forme of which zealous prayer he setteth downe else where: Looke downe from heauen, and behold from the dwelling place of thine holinesse, and of thy glory, where is thy zeale and thy strength, the multitude of thy mercies Esa. 63. 15.and of thy compassions? they are restrained from mee, &c. And so Hannah being afflicted and troubled in minde, because of her barrennesse, and the insulting prouocations of Peninna her aduersary, is said to hauehave prayed and wept sore; and as her selfe speaketh vntounto Eli in her iust excuse, to hauehave powred out her soule before the Lord, and of the abundāce of her complaint to hauehave made knowne her greefe vntounto1. Sam. 1. 10. 15▪ 16. God. And this earnestnes in prayer the Prophet Dauid vsed in his afflictions, euen thirsting (as hee saith) after Gods mercy for the granting of his suites, like the thirstie land, which being chopt with drought, seemeth to gape continually after raine, neuer shutting the iawes till it bee filled and satisfied. Thus also the disciples being endangered by aPsal. 143. 6. Matth. 8. 25. Mark. 4. 38. tempest, flee vntounto Christ for helpe, and with great earnestnesse crye out vntounto him, master, master, saue vsus, we perish, and as Marke recordeth it, in their feruent heat they expostulate the matter with him, saying, master, carest th…u not that we perish? of which kind of expostulations vttered to shew theseruency of spirit, we hauehave many examples in the booke of Iob, & of the Psalmes. And thus our Sauiour Christ himselfe in ye time of his greatest affliction, sheweth also his greatest feruencie in prayer, praying more often and instantly then at other times; for he is said to hauehave prayed thrice, that the bitter cup of his passion might passe from him; and being in hisHeb. 5. 7. agony to hauehave prayed more earnestly, and to hauehave vttered his prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares vntounto him that was able to saue him from death. Yea not only the faithfull, but euen the Heathenishe Nineuits, who inIon. 3. 8. the time of their prosperitie were so carelesse and secure, that they had need to be awakened with that heauie denunciation of their destruction; when they were brought into these narrow straights, are said to hauehave cryed mightily vntounto God for deliuerance out of that danger. So that if wee would not be vnlike all Gods Saints and seruants, yea if we would not come behind the Nineuits themselues, wee must in the time of our afflictions, not onelyonly pray vntounto God, but performe this dutie with great feruencie and earnestnesse. For indeed, this is a cheefe end why the Lord afflicteth vsus, and why also he differreth to deliuer vsus at the first motion, because hee would hauehave vsus more vrgent and instant in ourLuk. 11. 7. 8. prayer; as our Sauiour Christ plainly sheweth vsus in the parable of the two friends, the one awakening and raising vp the other to supplie his wants by his importunitie; and of the vnrighteous Iudge, who by the poore widowes incessant suing and troubling him, was in the end moued to doeLuk. 18. 5. her iustice. An example whereof we hauehave in the Canaanitish woman, who receiued from our Sauiour many repulses, not that hee was vnwilling to hearken vntounto her, and granther petition; but because hee would giuegive her occasionMatth. 15. to shew her faith and feruencie in following her suite. VntoUnto which seruencie, if wee doe not attaine in the time of our afflictions wee cannot hope to hauehave our requests heard and regarded, for if wee be slacke, colde, and negligent in offering our suites vntounto God, the Lord will bee flacke and slowe in granting them; and if through our slouthfulnesse we frustrate Gods end in afflicting vsus, hee will also frustrate the end of our prayers, and will not heare nor deliuer vsus out of our afflictions. For although he hath made many gracious promises, that hee will heare and helpe vsus, when wee call vponupon him in the time of our trouble, yet they are restrained vntounto this condition, if our prayers bee feruent and effectuall. So hee promiseth the Israelites, that if being in tribulation, in the land of their captiuity, they did from thence seeke the Lord, they should surely findeDeut. 4. 29. him; if they did seeke him with all their heart, and with all their soule. And the Apostle Iames telleth vsus, that the prayer Iam. 5. 16.of a righteous man auaileth much, if it be feruent or effectuall. And therefore though wee be neuer so eloquent and ampleHos. 7. 14. in our prayers with our tongues and lippes, yea though outwardly we howle and cry with our mouth and voice in our suits vntounto God, yet the Lord will not regard them, if in respect of the heart and affection they be cold and negligent. Whereas contrariwise if wee poure forth our hearts before God with feruencie of spirit, then though with Moses wee say nothing at all, yet our prayers will be lowde and strong cryes to moue his attention; though with Hannah we makeExod. 14. 15 our suits after such manner, that we only moue our lips, and hauehave no voice heard, and in regard heereof seeme vntounto men1. Sam. 1. 16. drunke or distract of our wits, yet if wee poure forth our soules vntounto God, hee will looke vponupon our affliction and heare our prayers. Though with Hezechiah wee are notable through the violence of our affliction to vtter a perfect sentence, but chatter like a Crane or Swallow, our prayers willEsa. 38. 14. be as effectuall to preuaile with God, if they proceed out of hearts inflamed with zeale and feruencie, as though they were vttered in the smoothest stile, and adornd with all the flowres of thetorick. Yea, if we can not speake at all, but only sigh and grone, yet this beeing the language which his owne holy Spirit teacheth vsus, wee may bee assured that heRom. 8. 26. both vnderstandeth it, and will also regard and harken vntounto it.
The fifth thing required is humilitie, whereby acknowledging§. Sect. 7. The fifth thing required, is humility, whereby we submit our wills to the will of God. our owne blindnesse and ignorance, by which it commeth to passe, that wee know not what is good for vsus, nor what to pray for, but with Zebedeus sonnes, aske wee know not what; and on the other side, the infinite wisdome of God, whereby hee knoweth what is best for vsus; and his boundlesse bounty and mercy, whereby according to his most gracious and infallible promises, thee is alwaies readie to bestow vponupon vsus all things which are good and profitable; we doe wholy resigne vp our selues vntounto his good pleasure, submit our wills which are continually subiect to errour and mistaking, vntounto his most holy will, which is priuiledged from these infirmities; and wholy referre all our suits and petitions vntounto his most wise consideration, to be granted or denyed, as will stand best with his glory, and the good and saluation of our owne soules. And this duty our Sauiour Christ hath taught vsus in that most perfect forme of prayer, where next after the aduancing of Gods glory and kingdome, hee willeth vsus to desire, that his will may bee done in earth as it is in heauen. Which if wee obserue, conforming our will in all things to the will of God, we are sure not onelyonly to hauehave all our requests granted, but also in such manner and measure, as shal be most for our spirituall profit, and the furthering of Gods glory, and our owne saluation; seeing God knoweth, when and by what meanes to effect them better, then wee out of our ignorance can prescribe vntounto him. Yea in truth wee can hauehave no assurance that any of our prayers which wee make according to our owne lusts, and not according to the will of God shall be heard or granted; vnlesse it be in Gods displeasure, for our iudgment and punishment; seeing these humble prayers, which wee wholy submit to the will of God, hauehave the promise of being heard, made vntounto them; according to that of the Psalmist, Commit thy way vntounto the Lord, and trust in him, and he shall bring it to Psal 37. 5.passe. So the Apostle Iohn more expresly telleth vsus, that in this conformity vntounto the will of God, consisteth all our assurance of hauing our petitions heard and granted; This (saith he) is the assurance that wee hauehave in him, that if wee aske 1. Ioh. 5. 14any thing according to his will, he heareth vsus. A notable example whereof we hauehave in our Sauiour Christ, who though he did most earnestly desire to hauehave the bitter cup of his passion to passe from him, yet doth hee submit himselfe and his suite to the good pleasure of his heauenly father. O my father Matth. 26. 39(saith he) if it be possible, let this cup passe from me: neuerthelesse, not as I will, but as thou wilt. And thus we submit our selues and our suits vntounto Gods will, first in regard of the substance of them, when hauing prayed for deliuerance out of our afflictions, wee can be content whether he will deliuer vsus or no, leauing it wholy and freely to his choyce and pleasure, whether he will free vsus from our crosses, or seeing it good for vsus that wee should still lye vnderunder them, will giuegive vsus strength and patience, so as wee may beare them with comfort and contentment. Secondly, when as wee doe not prescribe any meanes vntounto him, whereby we would be freed from all our afflictions, but leaue it wholy to the disposing of his wise prouidence; who with these, or other meanes; yea aboue, without, and contrary to all meanes, is able through his owne omnipotent power, to effect and bring to passe whatsoeuer it pleaseth him. Thirdly, when wee doe not limit or restraine him to either time or place, but leaue it wholy vntounto his good pleasure, who knoweth best when it is most seasonable for the effecting of his owne good purposes; onelyonly in generall, pray that hee will then and not before free vsus out of our troubles and afflictions, when as they hauehave effected those good ends for which he sent thē; that is, enriched vsus with his spirituall graces, and brought vsus neerer vntounto him by vnfained repentance. Fourthly, when we conforme our wills to the wil of God in respect of our ends, not crauing his blessings and benefits for worldlie, carnall and … respects; but that we may employ them to those vses and ends, for which hee hath bestowed them; and principally that wee may the better be enabled to glorifie God; and be furthered in the way of our owne saluation. And if wee doe not thus conforme our wills to Gods will, by propounding these ends to our desires, we can hauehave no assurance to be heard of God, or to hauehave our petitions granted, vnlesse it be in his wrathfull displeasure. And thus the Apostle Iames telleth those hypocrits to whom hee writeth, that they asked of God, and receiued not, because they asked amisse; Iam. 4. 3that they might consume Gods blessings receiued vponupon their owne lusts. Wherein the Lord dealeth graciously with his children and seruants, seeing the abuse of his benefits would much more hurt and endamage them, then the obtaining and hauing them would doe them good. And therefore, as the wise father doth out of meere louelove denye his childe a knife, though hee earnestly beggeth it, when hee knoweth that he doth desire it to play the wanton with it, to the endaungering of himselfe or others: and keepeth him bare of money, when he desireth it, that hee may spend it in riot, wantonnesse, drunkennesse, and such other wicked courses; and would not cease to giuegive him more stripes, if hee should perceiue by his plaine speaches, that hee therefore craued to be spared, that hee might returne to his old wayes, and againe incurre his displeasure, by committing wilfully his former faults: so the Lord will in louelove and mercy denie to heare vsus, crying vntounto him for deliuerance out of our troubles, when our suits hauehave ill ends propunded vntounto them, and not such as are pleasing vntounto him, and agreeable to his reuealed will. For example, the end which he propoundeth of our deliuerance out of affliction is, that beeing set at liberty, we might thankfully remember so great a benefit, and so be moued to glorifie him by our obedience, and by rendering vntounto him deserued praise. Now contrariwise, if wee desire to bee freed from our afflictions, that wee may with more pleasure and delight goe forward in our old worldly and wicked courses, and not that wee may be the fitter for his seruice; as for example, if we desire health and strength, that we may follow our carnall pleasures, and not that wee may the better be enabled to serue God in the generall duties of christianity, and the speciall duties of our callings; if wee desire to be eased of our pouertie, and to be enriched, that we may match or put downe those which are either our equals or superiours, or that we may spend these blessings in gay apparell, surfetting and drunkennesse, or contrariwise, to fill vp baggs onelyonly, that we may be counted rich, without any purpose to vse thē when we hauehave them; and not that we may glorifie God in his owne gifts, by our wise disposing of them for the good of our selues and others, in the works of christianitie, iustice and mercy; the Lord will not bestow these blessings vponupon vsus, though we begge them neuer so earnestly; or if hee should, they would bee curses and not blessings, and signes and pledges, not of his mercy and louelove, but of his wrath and heauie displeasure. And therefore if wee would be heard, when wee call vponupon God for deliuerance out of our afflictions, let vsus propound right ends of our freedome and immunitie; and because wee are forgetfull and negligent in performing those good duties, which in ye time of our troubles we propounded as the end of our deliuerāce;Gen. 28. 20 1. Sam. 1. 10. 11 Psa. 66. 13. 14 & 32. 1. 2. therefore it were not amisse to binde our selues heereunto by holy and solemne vowes, according to the example of Iacob, Hannah, Dauid, and other of Gods Saints and seruants.
The last thing required in our prayers, respecteth their§. Sect. 8. What is required in our prayers in respect of their time and continuance, namely perseuerance. time or continuance; namely that we doe incessantly perseuere in prayer without discouragement, although our suites be not presently heard and granted; and though after many prayers wee hauehave neither deliuerance out of our afflictions, nor any sense of comfort, or patience in bearing them. It is true, that it is a dangerous tentation for a poore Christian to cry and call for helpe in his trouble, and not to hauehave his suits regarded. For a man would thinke that if God would heare the prayers of any, then especially of those who are inPsa. 50. 15. & 91. 14. 15 affliction, seeing they aboue others hauehave his speciall promimises; that if hee would heare at any time, then after much crying and calling; and if in any thing, then in this suite for mercy and deliuerance which himselfe hath commanded vsus to make, with a promise to heare vsus; but for a man to pray, yea an afflicted man to pray; and for such an one to pray often, and to pray thus with Dauid out of the depthes of misery, and that with all feruencie and earnestnesse, and yet not hauehave his prayers heard, nor his suites granted; this striketh at the roote of faith, and shaketh the very foundation, if it be not built strongly vponupon the rocke. For then wee are ready to despaire of helpe, and to conclude, that seeing we hauehave found our prayers vaine and bootelesse; therefore we will saue that labour, and not spend our strength to no purpose, But the more strong and dangerous this tentation is, the more carefully ought eueryevery Christian to arme himselfe against it. And to this purpose let vsus consider, that the Lord requireth not onelyonly that wee should make our suites known vntounto him once or twice, or some few or many times, but that we incessantly continue in prayer, and neuer giuegive ouer till wee hauehave our petitions heard and granted. So the Apostle willeth vsus to aRom. 12. 12.reioyce in hope, to be patient in tribulation, and to continue in prayer; that b1. Thes. 5. 17we pray continually; and cEphe. 6. 18.alwaies, with all manner of prayer & supplication in the spirit, & watch thereunto with all perseuerance, and finally, that we dCol. 4. 2.continue in prayer, and watch thereunto with thanksgiuing. Luc. 18. 2. 3 Chap. 11. 6. 7Yea thus are wee bound to pray, when there is after much supplication no helpe appearing, no sense of comfort for the present, nor any outward ground of hope for the time to come; as our Sauiour teacheth vsus in the parable of ye widow, incessantly suing vntounto the vnrighteous Iudge; and of the importunate friend, who would admit of no answere till his suite was granted; for to this very end the Lord purposely differreth to helpe vsus, though euen at the first call he earneth in the bowels of his compassion towards vsus, that hee may hereby try, and by trying, exercise; and by exercising, encrease our faith, hope and affiance in him; as also that wee may be moued more seriously to repent of our sinnes, and with more feruencie and earnestnesse to call vponupon him. And therfore when the Lord seemeth to slacken his pace in comming to deliuer vsus, we must not slacken ours too in going vntounto him, but with more diligence and speed we must runne and meete him, and with the greater importunitie desire him to hasten his helpe. An example of which perseuering in prayer wee hauehave in Dauid, who neuer ceased to cry and call vponupon God for mercy and deliuerance, though hee had no sense of comfort, but was much perplexed in his distressed estate. In the day of trouble (saith he) I sought the Lord. My Psal. 77. 3.sore ran and ceased not in the night, my soule refused comfort. I did think vponupon God, and was troubled; I prayed, and my spirit Matth. 15.was full of anguish. So in the woman of Canaan, who being patient of all repulses, continued her earnest suite, & would take no denyall. And thus though the afflicted Church complaineth, that the Lord had couered them with wrath, persecuted, slaine, and not spared them; and that when they were in this Lam. 3. 43. 44 50.distresse; he had couered himselfe with a cloude, that their prayers Psal. 34. 17.could not passe through; yet shee continueth her suites and petitions vntounto God, till he looked downe from heauen, and sent them helpe and deliuerance out of all their miseries and afflictions. Which examples if we likewise will follow, we shall assuredly hauehave the like issue and successe in our prayers and supplications; for this gracious promise & comfort is common to all the faithfull, that if they cry, the Lord heareth them, and deliuereth them out of all their troubles. And though he hath giuen them no assurance that he will heare them at the first or second call, nor prescribed and limited a time or day when he will helpe and deliuer them; yet he exhorteth vsus all to goe boldly vntounto the throne of grace, assuringHeb. 4. 16. vsus that wee shall receiue mercy, and finde grace to helpe in time of neede. But of this perseuerance in faith and patience, when the Lord deferreth to heare and helpe vsus, I shall hauehave occasion to speake more fully heereafter, and therefore I do here with the greater breuitie passe it ouer.