The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 24 – Part 27
Of Prayer.
PRayer is the Messenger of the faithfull Soul, being the Request of an humble and sanctified heart, together with thanksgiving offered up by the spirit of Prayer, as a speciall service unto God, in the Name of Jesus Christ, in the behalfe of our selves and others, with assurance to be heard, in what we pray for according to the will of God revealed in his Word, the Spirit making request for1 Tim. 4. 8. us with groanes in the heart unspeakeable, the Lord accepting the inward mourning and desire of the heart for a Cry, as we see in Moses, who prayed to God inExod. 14. 15. Psal. 119 1…5. Lam. 2. … Syr. 21. …. & 35. 16. Ecclu…. …. …7. Exod. 32. 10. I…r. 7. 16. Chap. 1…. 14. the behalfe of the Israelites, the Lord answering him, saying, Why cryest thou unto me? when …s Moses indeed cryed not in voyce, but in the earnest affection of his heart: And is of such force, as that it goeth through the clouds, and ceaseth not untill it come unto the Lord, and will not depart, untill the most High have respect thereunto; yea, it doth as it were binde the Lord, and hinder him from executing judgements, overcomming him that overcommeth all things: as we see by the Lo…ds owne words unto Moses▪ saying, Suffer me▪ that my wrath may waxe hot against them: (to wit) the Israelit…s, and to consume them, and I will …ake of thee a mightie people. And again, by the Angels words unto Lot, saying, Haste thee, get thee hence: for we can do nothing till thou be gone, the Lord beingGen. 19. …5. then about to destroy Sodome. And is truly, Consolatio fl…ntium, Cura dolentium, & Sanitas aegro…orum: A Comfort for them that mourne: the Joy of the sorrowfull: and Health for those that are sick; being the chiefest remedie for every kinde of M…, and the only Odours that were offered upon the golden Altar before the Throne spoken of in the Revelation.Revel. 3. 8.
Prayers are of two sorts: Mentall:
Prayers are of two sorts: and
Prayers are of two sorts: Vocall.
Mentall, consisting in the Heart without voyce, such was Moses.Exod. 14. 15.
Vocall, conceived in the Heart, & pronounced with the tongue, such was Christs.Heb. 5. 7.
In Prayer these three things are to be seriously meditated upon:Eccles. 5. 1.
Gods Majestie, from whence ariseth Humilitie in spirit,…
Gods Promises, from whence ariseth Confidence to be heard,
Our own vilenesse, from whence ariseth Fervencie of Affection.
In Prayer also these Properties are to be observed:
Thy Prayer must be secret without ostentation, and zealous without doubting.
Thy Prayer must be briefe without much babling, and constant without intermission.
By Prayer
Abraham
Obtained favour in the sight of God for Ishmael his sonne▪Gen. 17. Chap. 18. Chap. 20. Chap. 14. Had saved Sodome, had there been found therein ten just men: Was heard for Abimele…hs wife, and others being barren, so that they bare again; and had a childe by Sarah, when she was past childe-bearing.
Abrahams Servant did meet with Rebekah according to his Petition.Gen. …4. 2 Chron. 13. 2 Chron. 14. Act. 10. 5, 3….
Abijah overcame Ieroboams Army, the Lord sighting for him.
King Asa subdued Zerah, having ten hundred thousand men.
Cornelius was willed to send for Peter to preach the Gospel to him.
The Apostles and Disciples
Had the Holy Ghost given, cast out devils, raised the dead;Act. 4. Cha. 16.
Healed all kind of diseases, and the Lepers cleansed.Matth. 10. ….
Daniel
Obtained wisedome to interpret Nebuchadnezzars dreame:Dan. 2. An Angel expounded to him the seventie weekes vision: Shewed him the building again of Jerusalem, with the annointingChap. 9. 2…. and death of Christ Jesus then to come.
David
Understood of Sauls coming to Keilah to take him.1 Sam. 23. 2 Sam. 24. Ch. 17. 23 Ch. 15. 31. Psal. 56. 9.
Turned away the wrath of God kindled against him.
Brought to nought Ahithophels counsell given to Absalom.
Often-times put his enemies to flight, fighting with them.
By Prayer
Elias
Stayed the Raine three yeares and sixe moneths, and againe obtained Raine, so as the earth yeelded her fruits.Iam. 5. 17. 1 Kin. 7. 21. Chap. 17. 12. 2 Kin. 1.
Raised from death to life the widow of Zarephaths son.
Commanded fire from Heaven to consume his burnt offering with the two captaines and their fifties sent to take him.
Elisha
Had the Spirit of Elias doubled upon him: Procured Beares to destroy the mocking Children: Raised from death to life the Shunamites2 King. 2. Chap. 4. Chap. 6. son: Had the eyes of his Servant opened, so that he saw Mountaines full of Horses, and Chariots of fire round about him, and smote the Aramites with blindnesse coming to take him
Hagars Eyes were opened to espie a Well, her son only crying.Gen. 21.
Hezekiah was delivered from Ashur, and his health restored to him.Isai. 37. 2 King. 18. Gen. 3…. 11. J…n. 2▪ 10 Dan. 3. Cha. 6. Act. 2. Man. 8. 24. 2 Ki. 13. 2 Chr. 33. Act. 5. Cha. 16.
Iacob
Was delivered from the wrath of Esau: Ionah out of the fishes belly: The three Children from the fiery furnace: Daniel from the Lions den: Ionah's and Paul's marriners from the danger of the seas: Ioseph and Iehoahaz, Manasseh, and Silas, with Paul, Peter, and others, out of Prisons.
Isaac obtained a son (to wit) Iacob: Rachel had Ioseph: Leah Issachar: Zacharias Iohn: Manoah Samson: Anna Samuel: and Elisha one for the Shunamite woman.
Ioshua commanded the Sun, and it abode in the midst of heaven.J…sh. 10.
Isaiah brought back the Sun ten degrees in Ahaz diall again.2 King. 20.
Iosiah was delivered from the plagues threatned to be brought on him.2 Kin. 22. Ch. 13. 12.
Iehoahaz was delivered from the Syrian: Iehoshaphat from the men of Aram.2 Chro. 18. Ch. 20. 22
Ieremiah
was told what the people should doe being in Captivitie in Babylon,Ier. 4…. 4. Chap. 7. 16. Chap. 11. 14. Chap 14. 11. as also stayed the wrath of the Lord severall times, being kindled against them; yea, so as the Lord willed him at times not to pray for them.
Iacob and Iabez got to each of them a severall blessing.G…. 32. 26. 1 Ch. 4 10
Io…
Pacified the wrath of the Lord being kindled against his friends, for notIob 42. 8. speaking that which was right unto him. As also had his captivitie under Satan taken from him, and a double portion of what he lost given him.
The Israelites
Being in bondage to the Egyptians were delivered; being inExod 3 7. Iudg. 3. Ch. 4. Chap. 6. Nū. …1. 1 Sa. 8. servitude to Aram, Moab and Canaan were redeemed: and in battell against the Canaanites and others prevailed: As also obtained Saul to be king over them, albeit the Lord was angry for the request made to him.
Just Lot saved Zoar: the cities of Sodome burnt with fire from Heaven.Gen. 19.
Moses
Moved the Lord to take away certaine plagues brought on the Egyptians:Exod 8. 4. Ch. 9. 29. Chap. 1…. 16. Deut. 9. …0. Stayed the wrath of the Lord kindled against Aaron: delivered the Israelites through the red Sea, from drowning, obtained the presence of the Lord to goe before them, and saw part ofExod. 14. Chap. 15. Chap. 17. Numb. 14. 20. Chap. 16. 45. Ch. 32. Num. 12. 13. & 11. 2 Exod. 15. 15. Cha. …1. 6. Numb. 21. 8. Gods presence going before him: Stayed many evils often threatned to be brought on the Israelites, prevailed against the Amalekites, by holding up his hands, during the time that Israel fought against them: Healed Miriam of the leprosie wherewith she was stricken: had a Tree shewed him whereby bitter waters were sweetned, and was willed to erect a brazen serpent, whereby those that were stung with fiery serpents were healed.
The Ninevites were delivered from the plagues threatned against them.Ionah 2.
Nehemiah obtained Letters from the King Artaxerxes to passe to Jerusalem.Nehem. 1.
The Prophet
Caused the Lord to take away the Grashoppers, and other such likeAmos 7. 1 Kin. 13. plagues brought on the Israelites: and restored Iero…oams hand, being dried up, by stretching it out to lay hold on him.
By Prayer
Peter raised Tabitha: Paul Eutychus, falling downe by sleeping.Act. 4. Ch. …0.
Samson had water out of a Tooth, and strength renewed him.Judg. 15 Ch 16 28
Samuel procured thunder, to punish Israel, and the Philistines.1 Sam. 12. Ch. 7. 9.
Solomon obt…ined wisdome, as also had granted his Petition.1 Kin. 3. Ch. 8. Ch. 9.
Sick Persons
The Centurions servant, The Canaanites daughter, and LunatickeMatth. 10. Chap. 9. Chap. 8. Chap. 15. Ch. 7. Luk. 17. Ch. 7. Chap. 2…. Mark 5. persons were healed, men blinde received sight, a man stammering and deafe, was made to heare and speake, Lepers were clensed, certaine persons being dead were to life restored, one thiefe of the two crucified was saved. The devils had leave of Christ to enter into the Swine, being cast out of the possessed, and not any that came to Christ were denyed.
Sinnes are forgiven: the faithfull shall save the sick.1 Joh. 5. 16.
Wisedome is obtained; and all things are sanctifiedMat. 11. 13Ja. 1. 5. 1 Tim. 4. 5.
So much Prayer availeth with the Lord, if it be servent.Iob 35. 13Ja. 5. 16. Luk. 11. 13
The Lord heard Davids Petition and Prayer when he cryed.Psal. 32. 6 Mat. 21. 22Psa 6. 9. Ps. 102. 17
Christ saith
Aske, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, Matth. 7. Chap. 6. 23. Iob 6. 23.and it shall be opene… unto you. For whosoever seeketh, findeth: asketh, receiveth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
And again he saith:
If two shall agree on earth upon any thing whatsoever ye shall desire, it shall Matth. 18. 19. Cha. 21. 22. Mark 11. 24. Ja. 1. 6. Chap. 5. 15. Rom. 12. 12.be …iven, &c. And where two or three be gathered together in my Name, I will be in the mids… of them. And whatsoever ye shall aske in Prayer, i… you beleeve, you shall receive the same.
Use.Eph. 6. 18. Luk. 18. 1.
Seeing Prayer is so availeable with God, let us follow the Apostles Rule, Pray 1 Th…s 5. 17, 18.continually, and in all things give thankes; remembring the wise mans Exhortation, Before thou prayest, prepare thy soule, and be not as one that tempteth God.Ecclus. 18. 22.
The Apostles
Continually in the Temple all together with one accord,Luk. 24. 53. with women, and with Mary the Mother of Jesus; as alsoAct. 1. 14. at the continuall election of their Deacons.Chap. 6. 5, 6.
Anna
In the Temple night and day, being a widow aged.Luk. 2. 37.
The Church
Fo… Poter, Paul and Silas when they were imprisoned.Act. 13. Ch. 16.
Daniel
Three times a day: and King David seven.Dan. 6. 13. Ps. 55. 18
Isaac
In the fields walking: Ioshua untill the evening.Gen. 24. Josh 7. 6.
Moses in the Field
Untill the going downe of the Sunne from her rising:Exod. 17. 12.
And at the going forth of the Arke, and at her resting.Numb. 10. 35.
Peter
Upon the House: The Philippians by the Rivers.Act. 10. 16. Ch. 16▪ 1…
Prayed
Paul
Three times that he might not be exalted through his Revelations:Act. 16. 16 2 Cor. 12. 7. Act. 14. 23. Chap. 16. …3. Chap. 21. 5. Rom. 1. 9. Phil. 1. 1 Thes. 1. Ch. 3. 1…. Col. 1. Chap. 4. 2. 1 Tim. 2. 8 Rom. 15. 30. Ephes. 6. 16. 2 Thes. 3. Phil. 1. 19. 2 Cor. …. 11. Heb. 13. 18.and with Barnabas for the Elders with women and children on the shore kneeling; and alwayes for the Romans, Philippians, Thessalonians, Colossians, and Philemon: For Timothy night and day: and for those that forsooke him earnestly: As also intreated the Romans to pray for him, that hee might be delivered …n Iude… from the disobedient men; and the Colossians and the Ephesians that God might open to him the door of utterance: and the Thessalonians that the word might have fr…e passage: and the Philippians, that Christ might be preached all manner of wayes: and the Hebrews, that in all things he might have a good Conscience: and Timothy for all men in Authoritie, and all1 Tim. 2. 1 Thes. 5. 17. persons else to pray continually.
Samuel
All the night long for Israel without ceasing.1 Sam. 15. Ch. 12. 23
Steven
For his persecuters, even when they stoned him.Act. 7. 60.
Prayed
Christ
In the wildernesse: at his baptizing: all night in the mountaine:Matth 4. 1. & 14. 23. L… …. 21. Chap. 6. 12. Chap. 9 18. Chap. 11. …. Chap. 22. Mark 1. 35. Matth. 26. 19. Ioh. 17. 1 Chap. 11. 41. Luk. 22. 32 Ioh. 17. 20. Chap. 16. 26. Luk 2…. …4. Hel. 7. 25. Ch. 5. 7. Ch. 9. 24 Matth. 6. 7. Ch. 9. 38. Luk. 1…. 1. Ch. …1. …6. Joh. 7. 9. alone by himselfe kneeling: with sweat like drops of bloud from his face trickling. At his raising of Lazarus from death, and for all them that should live in him by faith: for Peter that his faith might not faile him: and that his Father would glorifie him with all that beleeved in him. for his enemies that crucified him: and now in Heaven for those that belong to him: willing his Apostles to pray for them that hurt them: And all in secret shutting their doores to pray unto him, as he taught them.
In the Lords Prayer, whether we regard the Brevitie, Perfection, Authoritie, Method, Efficacie, or Nec…ssitie of it; it is to be beleeved that no SaintMatth. 6. 8. or Angel is able to match the Flat-forme thereof, being large for Matt…r, sh…rt for Phrase, and sweet for Order.
OUr Father,
By right of Creation,
Merit of MercieMercy,
Gratious Provisour.
Which art in Heaven:
The seat of thy Majestie,
The inheritance of thy children,
The Kingdome of Blisse.
Hallowed be thy Name:
By the thoughts of our hearts,
By the words of our mouthes,
By the works of our hands.
Thy Kingdome come:
Of Grace to inspire us,
Of Power to defend us,
Of Glorie to crowne us.
Thy will be done,
In weale and woe,
In fulnesse and want,
In life and death.
In earth as it is in heaven:
In us as it is in thine Angels,
Willingly, readily, faithfully,
Without murmure, let, deceit.
Give us this day our daily bread:
For the nourishing of our bodies
For the feeding of our Soules,
For the relief of our necessities.
And forgive us our debts,
Wherby thou art dishonoured,
Our neighbours wronged,
Our selves endangered.
As we forgive our debters:
That have hurt us in our bodies,
Hindred us in our goods,
Wronged us in our good name.
And lead us not into temptation:
Of the wicked world,
The enticing flesh, or
The envious devill.
But deliver us from evil:
Forgive that is past,
Remove that is present,
Prevent what is to come.
For thine is the Kingdom:
To rule and governe all,
To command and doe all,
In all, by all, All in all.
Now and for ever.
At this present,
In this world,
In the world to come.
Amen.
As thou sayest, so is it;
As thou promisest, so it shall be:
As we pray, So be it Lord.
Sinne what it is.
SInne it is the Corruption or rather the deprivation of the first integritie of Man, as also a falling or turning from God, binding the offender by the curse of Gods Justice to undergoe the punishment. And properly of it self it is not any thing, but rather the absence of that good, which ought to be in the Creature, being a fleering enemy before the action, a sweet porson in the action, and a stinging serpent after the action; and may well be termed a poison, in that it poisoneth all parts of a Man: to wit,
The Head with lightnesse,
The He…rt with falshood,
The Eyes with adultery,
The Tongue with blasphemie,
The Hands with oppression,
The Body with intemperance,
Beautie with wantonnesse:
Strength with violence:
Will with wilfulnesse:
Learning with dissention:
Devotion with superstition:
Religion with treason.
And if there be greater gifts in men it poysoneth them with pride, putting Cantharides into the Oyle pot: If meaner, it poysons them with hypocrisie, putting Colocinthis into the porridge pot: So that there is venenum & exitium; poison and death.
Sinne is before God execrable, detestable, and intollerable:
Execrable, because it repented the Lord that he had made Man.
Detestable, because God destroyed dumb Creatures for the sin of Man.
Intollerable, because God spared not his own Son for the offence of Man.
All sorts of sinne are comprehended
In the word Iniquitie in which is includ… naturall corruption.
In the word Transgression in which is includ… every actuall sinne.
In the word Sinne in which is includ… presumptuous sinne.
Sinnes are of three sorts:
Imputative from Adam, by whose sin we are all guiltie of death.Rom. 5 17. Rom. 7. 18. Iob 14 4. Rom. 7. 11. 14. Rom. 5. 14. 1 Ioh. 3. 4. Gen. 6. 5.
Originall from our corruption, consisting in Enmitie to Good, and Pronenesse to evil.
Actuall from our life, either by omitting or committing of Good, Evil.
By Omission of dutie required inwardly in the understanding, will.Matth. 15. 19.
By Commission of evil forbidden outwardly in word, or deed.Isai. 3. 8.
Which to do is a particular breach of Gods law, leaving a staine in the Soul, which polluteth the sinner, and disposeth him to further evil, in that it hardeneth the heart, gnaweth the Conscience, fighteth against the Soul, maketh ashamed, procureth plagues on Body and Soul with death eternall: Stipendium peccatimors Rom. 6. 23.est: The Reward of sin is death.
Sinne against the Holy Ghost.
SInne against the Holy Ghost, is the resisting of the knowne Truth, not of infirmitie for teare or favour, but of meet malice and hatred. Such are they that the Apostle speaketh of: The steps unto which Sinne are these: 1. PresumptionHeb. 6. 4. Chap. 10. 26. of Gods mercy: 2. Despaire of forgivenesse: 3. An impugning of the Truth, more freely to sinne, envying others spirituall good: 4. Obstinacie in sinne: And lastly, to dye without repentance for sinne.
Mans sinne compared with the Devils sinne.
THe Devil sinned once and no more; Man sinnes daily more and more. The Devil sinned before the Stipend of sinne; Man after notice and experience of sinne. The Devill persisted in malice being of God rej…cted; Man continues in hatred against God being by him recalled. The Devils heart was heardened against God that punished him; Man is obdurate against God that assumeth him.