A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 13
CAP. XIII.
Of Prayer in the Morning, how profitable it is and neceſſary, and of our preparation vntounto it.
§. Sect. 1 Of the fruit and profit of prayer.
ANd ſo much concerning the dutie of meditation, wherein we are to be exerciſed eueryevery morning. The next religious duty which is in the morning to bee performed of vsus, is, that we powre out our ſoules vntounto God by feruent & effectuall prayer, which is a duty aboue all others to bee daily put in practice. For it is a principall part of Gods ſeruice, whereby hee will be honoured of vsus, whereof it is, that in the Scriptures it is put for the whole worſhip of God. It is required of vsus by ſpeciall aHoſ. 14. 2. Pſal. 50. 14, 15. Matth. 7. 7. 1. Theſ. 5. 17.commandement in many places; vntounto which God hath incouraged vsus to yeeld obedience by many ſweete bIoh. 16. 23. Pſal. 145. 18. Eſa 65. 24.and gracious promiſes, whereby he hath aſſured vsus, that he will heare vsus, and grant our requeſts. It is the badge of true Religion, and the neglect thereof, of an vtter Atheiſt. And therefore the Pſalmiſt deſcribing ſuch an one, ſetteth him forth by theſe two properties, that he Pſal. 14. 1, 4. and 53. 4. Pſal. 50. 23.hath ſaid in his heart, There is no God; and hee hath not called vponupon the Lord. It is a duty moſt excellent, ſeeing thereby wee glorifie God, and hee alſo glorifieth vsus, vouchſafing vntounto vsus, who are but duſt and aſhes, yea wretched ſinners, this high and honourable priuiledge to hauehave free acceſſe vntounto him, and to hauehave the eare of our great King and Soueraigne, that we may make all our ſuites knowne vntounto him, with vndoubted hope to hauehave them heard and granted. It is moſt profitable alſo vntounto vsus, as being the chiefe meanes whereby wee attaine at the hands of God, all the good things which we need, and are freed from all the euils which wee feare; and the key whereby we open the treaſury of all Gods graces and rich gifts, and 1. Job. 5. 14.out of it furniſh our ſelues with all bleſſings which are needfull for vsus. It is moſt effectuall to preuaile with God for the obtaining of all the good Jam. 5. 16, 17, 18. Exod. 32. 10. Ioſh. 10. 15.things which we deſire, as we ſee in innumerable places and examples of holy Scriptures. It is a notable meanes for the ſtrengthening of our faith and affiance in God, when as we hauehave experience that he heareth vsus, and granteth our requeſts; and for the inflaming of our hearts with moſt feruent louelove, when we taſte of his bounty and goodneſſe, in giuing vntounto vsus the good things which wee deſire. It increaſeth our communion and fellowſhip with God, and bringeth vsus into familiar acquaintance with him. It maketh our minds to ſoare aloft in heauenly meditations; and being on earth, it cauſeth vsus to hauehave our conuerſation in heauen. It aſſureth vsus that we are the children of God, and heires of the heauenly inheritance, ſeeing the ſame Spirit, which is the ſpirit of ſupplication, ſealeth alſo vntounto Rom 8. 15, 26.vsus our Adoption. Finally, let vsus conſider that it is a duty moſt neceſſary, Ier. 10. 25. Gen. 32. 25, 26. Hoſ. 12. 4.if either we will auoyd Gods curſe, or will, with Iacob, ſo wraſtle with him, as we meane to preuaile and obtaine the bleſſing; that if we neglect it, it is a ſtrong euidence vntounto vsus, that we hauehave caſt off all feare of God, as Eliphaz reaſoneth againſt Iob; and that we are vtterly deſtitute of all ſauing grace, Zach. 12. 10.ſeeing the ſame Spirit is the ſpirit of grace and ſupplication.
§. Sect. 2 Their obiection anſwered, who pretend want of leiſure to pray.
Neither let any man pretend his ſmall leiſure, by reaſon of his waighty buſineſſe and manifold imployments, as an excuſe to warrant him for the neglect of a duty ſo high and holy, ſo excellent, profitable and neceſſary: vnleſſe he will ſay, that he hath no leiſure to be ſaued, to glorifie God, or inrich himſelfe with his graces and bleſſings, or to get the euidences of euerlaſting glory and happineſſe into his owne keeping: and that hee is ſo taken vp with worldly imployments, that hee hath no leiſure to ſeeke any acquaintance with God, to auoyd his curſe, or obtaine his bleſſing; to goe to heauen, or eſcape hell. For ſhame therefore let vsus caſt away theſe no leſſe prophane then friuolous excuſes: and to this end further conſider, that the greater and more important our buſineſſe is, the more need wee hauehave to implore by hearty prayer, the bleſſing of God vponupon our labours and indeuours, before we vndertake them, without which, all our policy, labour and indeuour, will be ſpent in vaine, either becauſe wee ſhall not atchieue the thing which we attempt; or if we do, yet in Gods iuſt iudgement it ſhall become vntounto vsus a curſe, rather then a bleſſing. Conſider further, how much time thou daily ſpendeſt in doing nothing, or that which is ill, and worſe then nothing: How much time in needleſſe curioſity about thy body, in dreſſing and feeding it, and in vaine diſcourſes about things that profit not, yea corrupt rather then edifie thee: How much in vnlawfull or ſuperfluous ſports and recreations: in carding, dicing, masking, reuelling, hunting, hawking, beholding vaine ſights and wanton enterludes: and bluſh for ſhame, that thou canſt find time enough, in thy greateſt imployments, for the ſatisfying of thy fleſhly luſts, and only wanteſt leiſure to ſerue thy God, and ſaue thine owne ſoule. Finally, let vsus conſider the vnwearied watchfulneſſe of all the Saints of God in all ages, in attending vponupon this duty, that they might frequently and feruently performe it day and night; and ſet before vsus the example of our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe, who ſpent mornings and euenings, yea whole nights in praying for vsus. Which if we neglect to doe for our ſelues, what doe we but diſclaime that holy communion, and ſhew plainely that we are not in that number? what doe we elſe but debarre our ſelues of the benefit of his interceſsion, when as we take no care by our prayers to hauehave it applied vntounto vsus? Neither let any ſay that his purpoſe is not to neglect this dutie altogether, but though he hath no leiſure to pray eueryevery day, yet he will finde ſome time for it, though not eueryevery morning, yet in the euening before he goe to bed. For though this ſomething be better then nothing, yet conſider that the morning ſacrifice was no leſſe required of God then the euening; that the ſeruants of God hauehave riſen betimes to call vponupon him; that we cannot looke to proſper in any of our labours, if we hauehave not firſt craued Gods bleſſing vponupon them; that we are daily ſubiect to many dangers, to fall into many ſnares of the diuell, to bee ouercome of his tentations, to bee attached with Gods Iudgements, and to be plunged into many perils which are daily incident vntounto the life of man: yea, that before night wee may be ſtrucken with ſudden death, as many others hauehave been whom we hauehave knowne and heard of, and ſo be arreſted and called to the barre of Gods Iudgement, to plead guilty or not guilty, before wee hauehave preſented our ſelues at the Throne of grace, to ſue forth our pardon: and then how fearfull is our condition, if we are thus taken away in our ſinnes? From all which dangers we ſhall be ſecured, if wee conſcionably performe this daily duty of morning prayer, and neuer goe about our worldly buſineſſe, till wee hauehave gotten our pardon to carry with vsus.
§. Sect. 3 That before we pray, we muſt vſe preparation, and what is required vntounto it.
Now being by theſe reaſons perſwaded to the daily practice of this duty; let vsus in the next place conſider how we may ſo performe it, as that Pſal. 108. 1.it may be acceptable vntounto God, and profitable for our owne ſaluation. And vntounto this many things are required, before, in, and after our prayers. Before, is required preparation: for as Dauid ſpeaketh of praiſing God, ſo may we of prayer in all kindes, our hearts muſt bee prepared, and ſo muſt our tongues, before wee can pray. And as they that meane to make any good muſicke, doe firſt ſet their inſtruments in tune; ſo muſt wee, before we can make any ſweet melody in Gods hearing, tune our hearts, that they may be fit for this action. And if we will not ſpeake vntounto our Prince raſhly and vnaduiſedly, but prepare our ſelues by due meditation, both in reſpect of the matter, and manner of our ſpeech; how much more ſhould Eccleſ. 5. 1, 2.we auoyd raſhneſſe of mouth, and haſtineſſe of ſpeech, when as we ſpeake to the ſoueraigne King of heauen and earth? Now in this preparation wee muſt examine our ſinnes, that wee may afterwards humbly confeſſe them and craue pardon; eſpecially we are to ſearch out thoſe, whereby we hauehave moſt diſpleaſed God, and wounded our owne conſciences, and wherunto our corrupt nature is moſt inclined; and alſo labour to finde out our ſpeciall wants, and thoſe gifts and graces in which we are moſt defectiue, or of which, in reſpect of our preſent occaſion, wee moſt ſtand in need; that accordingly wee may frame out ſuits, and preſſe them vntounto God with more efficacie and feruency of deſire. Secondly, we muſt looke to our feet, that is, to our affections, as the Wiſe-man exhorteth, and examine Eccleſ. 5. 1.with what diſpoſition we come vntounto prayer, whether as earneſt ſuiters that will hauehave no deniall, or after a cold, careleſſe, and formall manner, for cuſtome, rather then conſcience ſake: eſpecially wee muſt bee carefull to baniſh out of our minds and hearts, all worldly and wandring 1. Tim. 2. 8.thoughts, carnall luſts, wrath, doubting, maliciouſneſſe, &c: and that wee be heauenly-minded, and hauehave our hearts fraughted with holy deſires, hungring and thirſting after the gifts and graces which we intend to beg at Gods hands. Finally, we muſt take heed, that wee doe not preſent our ſelues before God in our impenitency; but if wee be guilty of any ſinne, Prou. 28. 9. Pſal 66. 18. Eſa. 59. 1, 2.we muſt bewaile it, and promiſe amendment. For our ſinnes vnrepented of, ſtand as a wall of ſeparation betweene God and vsus, hindring his bleſſings from deſcending, and our prayers from aſcending; eſpecially wee muſt bewaile our want of charity, and purpoſes of reuenge: for as wee forgiue Math. 5. 23. and 6. 14.men their treſpaſſes, ſo will God forgiue vsus. And becauſe wee are ſo dull and auerſe to this holy duty, that by all our meditations we cannot, as we ought, prepare our ſelues vntounto it: therefore let vsus intreat the Lord, before we make any other ſuit vntounto him, that hee will prepare our mindes and hearts aright, and ſo aſſiſt vsus with his grace and holy Spirit, that wee may performe this high & holy duty, in ſome ſuch maner as may be acceptable in his ſight. In our prayers diuers things are required: As firſt, in reſpect of the obiect, that we pray onelyonly to God our Father in heauen, as our Sauiour hath taught vsus. Secondly, in the alone mediation of Ieſus Chriſt: For as there is but one God, ſo there is but one Mediator betweene God and 1. Tim. 2. 5.man, the man Chriſt Ieſus. Thirdly, ſeeing through our ignorance and corruption we cannot pray as wee ought; therefore wee muſt craue the aſſiſtance of God the holy Ghoſt, which helpeth our infirmities, and maketh interceſsion for vsus, with ſighes and grones which cannot be expreſſed. In reſpect of Rom. 8. 26, 27. Zach. 12. 10.the ſubiect or party that prayeth, diuers things are required, firſt, in reſpect of his perſon: ſecondly, in reſpect of his action. In reſpect of his perſon, 1. that he be a faithfull and righteous man. For they that draw neere vntounto God, muſt be holy, as he is holy; not in the perfect holineſſe and righteouſneſſe Leuit. 19. 2. and 10. 2, 3.which the Law, but which the Goſpell requireth: that is, in reſpect of ſincerity and integrity, deſire, reſolution and indeuour. For the prayer of the righteous man onelyonly is effectuall; and the Lord ſatisfieth their deſires alone that feare him. Neither can our ſuites be acceptable vntounto God, Iam. 5. 16. Pſal. 145. 19. Prou. 15. 9, 29.before our perſons are accepted: according to that of Salomon, The ſacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the righteous is acceptable vntounto him. And ſo Dauid ſaith, that the eyes of the Lord are vponupon Pſ. 34. 15, 16, 17the righteous, and his eares are open to their cry: But the face of the Lord is againſt them that doe euill, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. And therfore our care muſt be, if we would pray with hope to be heard, to lift vp pure hearts and hands vntounto God, not in their owne naturall purity, but as they are waſhed with the blood of Chriſt. Beſides which waſhing of Iuſtification, we muſt labour after the ſpirituall waſhing of Regeneration, that we may be cleanſed by the water of the Spirit, applying vntounto vsus the vertue of Chriſts death and Reſurrection, and the waſhing of repentance, bathing our ſelues in the teares of hearty ſorrow and contrition, becauſe by our ſinnes we hauehave diſpleaſed our gracious God. And if wee prepare our hearts, and ſtretch out our hands towards him; If iniquity be in our Iob 11. 13, 14.hand, we muſt put it away, and not let wickedneſſe dwell in our tabernacles. For if we doe not waſh and make vsus cleane, and put away the euill of our doings, but come before him defiled in our ſins; then though wee ſpread forth our hands, Eſa. 1. 15, 16.God will hide his eyes from vsus, and when we make many prayers, he wil not heare.