the Time of Finding, Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII. Reaſons, Why there will be a Time of Finding, in reſpect of Gods people.
Reaſons in reſpect of mourners. 1. Of the revilings of the proud.Firſt, BEcauſe of the ſcornings and revilings of the proud, as reproaching the Godly for their mourning and tears. Had not the Lord been found of Hezekiah, he had not been able in a little while to have born Rabſhakehs and Sennacheribs blaſphemies. That which cauſed Hannah to be in bitterneſs of Soul before the Lord, (and no doubt moved the Lord to take pity on her) it was the extreamſ1 Sam. 1.6. provoking of her adverſary, for to make her fret, becauſe the Lord had ſhut up her womb. Our Adverſaries are fallen upon Rabſhakehs work, and ſeek to provoke us, by the like ſcornful reproaches. Where is the fruit (ſay they) of your tears and cries? You may ſee the Lord cares not for your weeping, faſting, and praying: did he regard them, he would have helpt you ere now: Ah, ah, Doe ye think that ſobs and groans will doe it?
Of ſuch Libertines and profane ſcoffers David ſpeakstPſa. 14.6. The Counſel of the poor afflicted, ye would make aba…hed, becauſe Iehovah is his hope: that is, Ye have derided the Godly, when yee heard them in affliction to call upon the Lord, and would diſcourage them from making God their Hope by faith and prayer. Indeed this ſtrikes deep, when the Enemy reproacheth our prayers: Iob found it ſo,uJob 12.4. I am as one mocked of his neighbor, calling upon God. And David ſadly complains of it,xPſa. 42.3. My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually ſay, Where is thy God? Again,yverſ. 16. As with a ſword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me, while they dayly ſay unto me, Where is thy God? A man that hath a weapon thruſt to the bone, cannot bear it long; he muſt have it forth, or dyes. Though it be a grievous thing to have our prayers reproach'd, yet this help we have by it; namely, it will force us to be the more fervent and earneſt with God, and not to reſt day nor night, till there be A TIME OF FINDING.
We finde in Scripture, that the tryumphing of the wicked, hath layn very much upon the Spirits of Saints; and therefore have deſired a Time of finding, that the Enemy might not inſult:zPſa. 13.34. Conſider, and hear me, O Lord, leſt mine enemy ſay, I have prevayled againſt him, and thoſe that trouble me, rejoyce. Again,aPſa. 140.8. Grant not, O Lord, the deſire of the wicked, further not his wicked device, leſt they exalt themſelves. What is it that Apoſtates and other wicked men would have? That Mourners in Zion might have no Time of finding. And what would they do, ſhould they have their deſire? It is not to be uttered, the wickedneſs they would commit. The Jewes report of one preſuming to enter into the Holy of Holieſt, and abuſing the Treaſure there, was by the hand of God immediately ſmitten. The prayers and groanings of Saints are no other, then Choyce things in the moſt Holy place. And therefore when men begin to deride and reproach theſe Holy things, ſurely judgment is not far off.
I remember Hezekiahs words:bIſa. 37.3. This is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blaſphemy: for the children are come to birth, and there is not ſtrength to bring forth. What he ſpeaketh there, is our preſent caſe: when the child is at the birth, the woman hath her ſoreſt travel; then either death, or a ſpeedy deliverance. That our Tears, Prayers and Sighings are reproach'd, it hath brought the Work to the Birth. Ah! how Zion now travels, as having her laſt and ſharpeſt pangs and throws upon her. Methinks I hear her cry,cLuk. 8.24. Maſter, Maſter, we periſh. But fear not Zion, hear what thy God ſpeaketh,dIſa. 66.9. Shall I bring to birth, and not cauſe to bring forth? As the Lord by the blaſphemous reproaches and ſcornings of the Enemy, (viz. Prieſts, Lawyers, and Soldiers) hath brought the work to the Birth, and put the ſharpeſt pangs now upon thee; ſo he will ſpeedily work out thy ſalvation?eIſa. 9.7. The zeal of the Lord will perform this.
2. Becauſe the Lord knowes we are weaklings.Secondly, Mourners ſhall have a Time of finding, Becauſe the Lord fPſa. 103.14.knows their frame, and remembreth they are duſt. Things that are brittle and tender, ſhould they be roughly handled, would ſoon break to pieces. As the Lord knows, we are weaklings, Babes, Bruiſed reeds and ſmoaking flax; ſogHeb. 4.15. He is touched with a feeling of our infirmities, andhIſa. 57.17. will not contend for ever, leſt our ſpirits ſhould fayl before him. If a father ſhould ſee his child at his foot gaſping for life, would he not pity him, and preſerve him (if he could) from periſhing?iJon. 2.7. When my Soul fainted within me (ſaid Jonah) I remembred the Lord, and my prayers came unto thee, into thine Holy Temple.
And this alſo makes me think a time of finding is nigh, Becauſe the Name of God, and the Cauſe of Chriſt, lies with ſuch weight upon the Spirits of Mourners, as they are even fainting under it. Poor Hagar could not indure to hear the death-groans of her child: for though ſhe had heard him awhile weep and cry for water, yet when ſhe thought he was fainting away,kGen. 21.15, 16. She leaves him, and goes a good way off, and lifts up her voyce and wept. As DEATH-GROANS are now upon travelling Zion; ſo the Lord ſees it, and he will not do as Hagar did, go off from her: (there is no need, for the water is not ſpent in his bottle,) but out of his fulneſs, he will ſpeedily ſupply her, by granting her a bleſſed time of finding. If a man ſhould hear lamentable groanings and ſcreeches at his gate, and looking out at his window, ſhould behold poor people ready to ſtarve through cold and hunger, he could not (having enough by him) ſuffer them to periſh. It is thus with many of Gods people at this day; they lie ready to ſtarve before the Throne of Grace, either FINDING or FAINTING. And will he ſuffer ſuch to famiſh? Surely he will not, he cannot; for his promiſelPro. 10.3. Pſal. 107.5 6, 7. is to do otherwiſe.
Suppoſe a Beaſt carry a burden ſo long, as through weakneſs it begins to ſink, what man would not pitie it, (though it be a Beaſt) and eaſe him of it? The BURDEN hath been ſo long on the Lords Little ones, and themDan. 7.25. Horn ſo weared them out, as poor hearts, they ſeem almoſt tyr'd. One cries,nPſa. 94.14. My foot ſlippeth: anotheroEccleſ. 7.7. Oppreſſion makes him mad: otherspEzek. 37.11. Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost, &c. others,qPſa. 125.3. The rod of the wicked hath been ſo long upon them, as they are ready to put forth their hands to iniquity. All this God knowes to be true; and he knowesrMat. 26.41. the fleſh is weak, and*Epheſ. 6.4. Col. 3.21. Parents must not provoke ther Children, leſt they be diſcouraged. But what may we gather from it? Our God will ſuddenly come, and not keep ſilence, to ſave all the meek of the earth.
Better one man ſhould die, then the whole Nation periſh. Methinkes things are come to that STRAIGHT, that if Chriſts Enemies live, his faithful Friends die; if their ſpirits fail not, the others will: If God do not ſuddenly ariſe for his great Name, ſome Sobbing-hearts wil break at his foot. But fear not thou Worm-Iacob ſIſa. 43.3.I will give men for thee (ſaith the Lord) and people for thy life. He will give the Little Horn to the burning flame; The Laſt Apostacie ſhall periſh: THE HYPOCRITE SHALL REIGN NO MORE, rather then thy Spirit ſhall fail, for not having A Time of Finding.
Thirdly:3. Becauſe they are his friends and ſervants. Becauſe they are the Lords People, his Iewels, Servants, Children and Friends. tPſa. 119.125.I am thy Servant (ſaith holy David) give ME underſtanding. If another mans Childe or Servant ſhould ask ſomething of you, you might in all reaſon (eſpecially if Enemies) bid them go to their own Father and Maſter, why do they come to you? It is very true, ſuch as as are the ſervants of Antichriſt, and do ſerve the baſe luſts of Tyrants, yea, and are Tyrants themſelves; The Lord may juſtly ſay unto them, when they Call upon him, as the Prophet did to the King of Iſrael: u2 Kin. 3.13.What have I to do with thee? Get thee to the Prophets of thy Father, and to the Prophets of thy Mother. So may the Lord ſay to REVOLTERS, Why come ye now to me? have ye not rejected me, and caſt me off, in my Son, Zion, Cauſe and Kingdom; broken your Vowes and Covenants with me? Therefore get ye unto the Head of the Laſt Apostacie, and the Great Whore, the Head of the Firſt Apostacie, whom ye have honored more then me: And it ſeems to me, David in the Spirit foretels this very thingxPſa. 18.41. They cry'd out, but there was none to ſave; unto IEHOVAH, but he anſwered them not. A Propheſie to be fulfil'd in the Last Dayes (as I take it) upon APOSTATE PROFESSORS.
But howſoever the Lord will thus deal with his enemies for their Crooked ways, yet with his Friends and faithful Servants, whoyLuk. 22.28. continued with him in his temptations; Suffered baniſhment, impriſonment, ſpoyling of their goods, &c. rather then to forſake THE GOOD OLD CAƲSE, TheſeaIſa. 58.9. ſhall call, and the Lord ſhall anſwer; They ſhall cry, and he ſhall ſay, Here I am bIſa. 49.15.Can a Mother forget her ſucking child? &c. If a child be crying in the ſtreets, and multitudes of people ſhould paſſe by without taking notice of the child; yet no ſooner doth the mother hear it cry, but runs to it, kiſſeth it, and carrieth him home in her boſome. What though prophane people, and proud carnal profeſſors that are at eaſe, regard not the Mourners in Zion, but reproach their very ſighings and groanings, laugh and deride their prayers? yet they have a father that hears them, andcPſa. 57.18. puts all their tears into his bottle, and in due timedPſal. 30.11. will put off their ſackcloth, and gird them with gladneſs.
Fourthly, Becauſe in ſeeking him, 4. Becauſe in ſeeking him they ſeek onelyonly his glory.they ſeek only his Glory. As a ſhooter hath one eye cloſe, and with the other ſees nothing ſave the mark at which he ſhoots: thus it is now with the Little Remnant; their eyes are ſhut from all Self-reſpects, they look not upon any worldly advantage, neither ask any thing of God, but what may be to the glory of his Great Name. If they ask health, Liberty, food, &c. it is, that God may be glorified in the right improvement of them: if they pray againſt Apoſtates and Covenant-breakers, it is, thateIſa. 2.17. the Lord alone may be exalted. fPhil. 1.21.To me to live is Chriſt, and to die is gain: that is, ſo Chriſt may be glorified, I am willing to live; and if glorified, I am willing to dy: it is all one to me whether I live or dy, ſo Jeſus Chriſt by it may have glory.
Could a father ſee a child at his foot crying to him with tears, that he might know his will, and upon no other account then to honor him in the doing of it: I ſay, could a father ſee all this; and not be found? g1 Cor. 4.3.For mens judgment, we paſs it by, as a very ſmall thing; the Lord knows it is true, viz. That there is a Seed of God at this day in bitterneſs of Soul, to know what is that good, that acceptable and perfect will of God; and for no other end, then to ſerve the Lord: and not as Turn-coats and Revolters do, to ſerve themſelves upon him. The Lord was well pleaſed with Solomon, h1 Kin. 3.10, 11.Becauſe he asked not for himſelf long life, nor riches, nor the life of his Enemies, but underſtanding to diſcern judgment; that is, he asked that thing, whereby he might moſt honor God: and the Lord gave him his requeſt, and more too. Never had Saints more cauſe then now to beleeve a time of finding is nigh, and that all their tears and ſighings will be ſpeedily anſwered, ſeeing they go not unto the Lord (as Hypocrites do,)i.Hoſ. 7.14 For corn and wine, and rebel againſt him; but for this end, thatkMat. 6.9. the Lords name may be hallowed.
But this corrupt men cannot do. It is not Gods Counſel they deſire to know, nor his good Cauſe to carry on; but that their own wicked deviſes might proſper, & that the Lord would give his glory to them. As the rainbow never appears, but is in oppoſition to the Sun; ſo ſome men if they appear publickly or privately, in faſting and prayer, they are never in that ſide of the world where Gods Glory is, but quite in oppoſition to it. I have read of a certain Soldier, having done great ſervice for the State, was bid to ask ſome reward for himſelf: to which he anſwered, For himſelf he would ask nothing, but had a Petition for the Church and People of God. I hope there is ſuch a frame of Spirit among the Mourners every where, they have layd aſide their own concernments, and are ſeeking the things of Chriſt and Zion; if ſo, then hold up your heads, The time of finding is come.
Fifthly,5. Becauſe Jeſus Chriſt moves and intercedes for them. Becauſe the prayers of Saints are not only lRev. 8.3 4.by Jeſus Chriſt preſented to the Father, and by him made a ſweet ſacrifice, but likewiſe he himſelf moves and intercedes in their behalf. Thus Chriſt in Heaven is as a Favorite at Court, takes our Petitions and ſpeaks to them: So ſaith Paul, mRom. 8.34.He is at the right hand of God, making interceſſion for us: The Text carries it, that he is in Heaven with his ſtripes, wounds, blood, death, ſetting them before the eyes of his Father, and all for Zion. Some men after their exaltation and preferment, forget their poor Brethren and old friends, (as Pharaohs Butler forgot Joſeph:) but Chriſt doth not ſo, we arenSon. 8.6. as a ſeal ſet upon his heart, there he wears us, and keeps us, not only for an ornament, and to ſhew how pretious he accounts us, but that we might be always in his ſight and remembrance.
The incouragement given us to come boldly to the Throne of Grace, is,oHeb. 4.5. For we have not an High-Prieſt which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted, yet without ſin. There is no man will proſecute a buſineſs for another ſo fully, as he that is tenderly affected with the caſe. The troubles and diſtreſſes which are now upon Gods people for poor Zion, are upon the heart of Chriſt, yea, and much more upon his heart then theirs; and therefore doubtleſs, he will preſs home their SUITS in Heaven. Beſides, that which Adonijah ſaid to Bathſheba, is moſt true of Chriſt:p1 Kin. 2.17. The Father will not ſay him nay. qPſa. 2.8.Ask of me, and I ſhall give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermoſt parts of the earth for thy poſſeſſion. A man will be the more willing to help another, if he ſee himſelf concern'd in the thing, and that it is his own good that is deſired. For whom doe the faithfull ſigh and groan? Is it not for Chriſt? as the Prophet ſaith,rPſa. 72.15. Prayer ſhall be made for him continually. When they pray againſt Babylon, Tyrants, Tryers, Lawyers, Soldiers; Is not this to pray for Chriſt? viz. That his enemies may be made his footſtoole, ſHeb. 10.13.(as he expecteth) andtRev. 11.15. all the Kingdoms of the world become his, uEzek. 21▪ 27.whoſe right it is. And what may we learn hence? Surely Chriſt will look after the tears and cryes of Mourners, becauſe they are poured forth for his own righteous cauſe.
Laſtly, That Believers ſhould come unto God by Chriſt, the holy Ghoſt giveth this reaſonxHeb. 7.25 Seeing he ever liveth to make interceſſion for them. yZech. 1.5.Your Fathers where are they? and the Prophets do they live for ever? How often comes it to paſs that there is not a Moſes to ſtand in the breach?aEzek. 22.30. not a man to he found. Is it not now our ſad complaint?bPſa. 74.9 We ſee not our Signs, there is no more any Prophet, neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. Nevertheleſs Jeſus Chriſt our great High-Prieſt LIVETH FOR EVER, and ceaſeth not to plead Zions Cauſe, (or his own Cauſe rather) before the Throne.cIſa. 63.16. Doubtleſs thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Iſrael acknowledge us not. Thou O Lord art our Father, our Redeemer, thy Name is from everlasting.
And here it falls in our way to diſcover the great preſumption of Chriſts Enemies,dLuk. 19.27. which will not that he ſhould reign over them; But inſtead of exalting him, ſeek to exalt themſelves. It is much they are not affraid to take Chriſts Name in their mouth. For unto whom may they be likened? To a company of Uſurpers, who keeping an honeſt man out of his lawful poſſeſſion, will yet go to him and entreat him to aſſiſt him againſt himſelf. Surely he cannot but think they mock him moſt groſly. I leave the application to ſuch as will not thateRev. 11.17. Christ ſhould take to him his great power and reign; yet ſay, Lord, Lord.
Sixthly.6. Becauſe they ſeek him with the groanings of the Spirit. Becauſe they ſeek the face of God, with the groanings of the Spirit; And this is tofJude 20. pray in the Holy Ghoſt: i. e. when the Spirit works all our ſighings, wreſtlings and ſtrong cries. As the Maſter holding the Childs hand, what is ſo written, is done by him, and he cannot but like it, becauſe it is his own Act: Thus in our ſincere Mournings before the Lord: they muſt needs be accepted, becauſe they aregIſa. 26.12. the work of his own Hand; not our ſighings and prayers, but as David ſaid,h1 Chron- 29.14. Of thine own have we given thee. When the Heavens and the Earth were finiſhed, and all the hoſts of them, it is ſaid,iGen. 1.31. And God ſaw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good. It could not but be lovely, fair and excellent, being his own work-manſhip. Are our Mournings the work of the Spirit? Surely then, as God ſees them, they are very good.
And this is matter of ſingular comfort and incouragement unto all Mourners in Zion: What though their ſighs and cryes (as lookt on by Enemies) are ſlighted and ſcorn'd?kNeh. 4.1, 2, 3. What do thoſe feeble Jews (Fifth Monarchy-men) will they fortify themſelves? do they think by their weeping to build Zion? Will they revive the ſtones of the heaps of the rubbiſh which are burnt? Ah, ah, ſay they (poor deceived people; that which they build by their praying and faſting, if a fox go up, he ſhall even break down their ſtone wall. It is true, thus are our tears and cryes to God mockt and deſpis'd; but let us not be diſcouraged for all this, remember (what was ſaid) they are not our groanings, but the Spirit's and in that regard,lPſal. 65.5. by terrible things in righteouſneſs, wilt thou anſwer us, O God of our ſalvation. mRom. 8.26, 17.The Spirit helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we ſhould pray for, as we ought; but the Spirit it ſelf maketh interceſſion for us, with groans which cannot be uttered. And he that ſearcheth the heart, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, becauſe he maketh interceſſion for the Saints, according to the will of God: That is, we being weak, and prayer a great work, the Spirit helps us to carry the Burden with us, and for us; and ſupplyes our want of knowledge, by prompting (as it were) our leſſon unto us, to ask ſuch things, and in that manner as God requireth and alloweth. Parents many times hear their children ſob and groan; but not knowing the cauſe thereof, cannot help them. But the Lord knows the mind of the Spirit. Though we doe butnIſa. 38.13. Chatter like a Crane or ſwallow, and mourn as a Dove; o1 Sam. 1.13.Speak onelyonly in our hearts (like Hannah) and no voyce is heard: This before the LordpPſa. 142.2. is as incenſe, an acceptable and well-pleaſing ſacrifice.
Queſt. But how may we know the Groanings of the Spirit, from our own?
Anſw. 1. Nothing will quiet the Spirit (as to ceaſe groaning) but ſatiſfaction in the thing groaned for. Though Elkanah ſpake comfortably to his wife, when he ſaid,q1 Sam. 1 8, Am not I better to thee then ten ſons? yet that would not help: ſhe was in bitterneſs of Soul before the Lord for a childe, and nothing but a childe will comfort her. As Rachel ſaid,rGen. 30.1. Give me children or elſe I dy; Thus it is with Saints groaning in the Spirit for Zion, and the Great Name of God, and againſt the abominable Falſhood and Hypocriſie of men. Their SoulsſPſa. 77.2. refuſe to be comforted, until the Lord gratiouſly anſwer them here. I have ſeen children cry and roar after a piece of mony, but no ſooner hath a counter or bable been put into their hand, but they had done crying, and all is quiet and well again. What great mourning was there ſome few yeers ſince in Churches and among profeſſors, after righteouſneſs and judgment, and to have all heavy yokes broken? but now the Abby-key being found, and the fiſh caught; that is, great places, Offices, and preferment gotten, we hear no more crying out againſt oppreſſion, all is quiet now, and well again; now they can hold their peace, though the time be worſe then before, in reſpect of the intereſt of Chriſt and his People, and the publick good of the Nations.
But what may we gather hence? They were not the Lords Remembrancers. Their tears and groans were their own, and for their own intereſt, not the Spirit's, and for the things of Chriſt: for had the Spirit ſet them on work, had they been the Spirit's ſighs and ſobs for Zion, tIſa. 62.6, 7.they would not have held their peace day nor night, nor given the Lord reſt, ƲNTIL he had made Jeruſalem a Prayſe in the Earth. u1 Joh. 2.19.If they had been of us, they would no doubt, have continued with us.
2. If they are the Groanings of the Spirit, nothing will be askt, but what is,xRom. 8 27 according to the will of God. yLuk. 22 42.Not my will (ſaith Chriſt) but thine be done. So again,aAct. 21.14. The will of the Lord be done. As a man that is doing ſomthing for a friend, will indeavor to doe it ſo, as the party for whom he doth it, may like it, and have content: thus it is with us, when the Spirit helpeth us with groanings which cannot be uttered: We are all for pleaſing God; we would not ſpeak, nor have our hearts move or think of any thing, but what the Lord ſhould take pleaſure and delight in. It is true, Hypocrites can groan, and like Eſau, will beg bleſſings with tears; but obſerve this, it is to ſerve themſelves upon the L…d, and to have their will done, whethe… it be Gods will or no: thus they will have the Lord to bleſs their Counſels and deſigns, though they are againſt Himſelf, his Son, and Zion: ſo when they havebIſa. 28.15. made a Covenant with death, and with hell are at an agreement, then muſt Prieſts and People be call'd together, to faſt and pray, that it may proſper.
3. Spirit-Groanings are likec2 King. 2.11. Elias chariot and horſes of fire, carry the Soul into Heaven. It is the Glory of God, which now is onelyonly eyed. As the Mariners needle always trembles and ſhakes, till her point be towards the Pole: ſo it is with right Mourners, they are not ſatisfied in weeping and ſobbing before the Lord, unleſs they have the ſight of his glory; then they are quiet, ſeeing the mark they look after. When the ſun is riſen, we ſee not a ſtar in the Firmament: Reader, note it. What is it when thou art in bitterneſs of Soul, that vaniſheth? Is it SELF? Seeſt thou no Honour, Credit, Preferment, Relations, nor any other worldly Reſpects? Seeſt thou the great Name of God, dearer to thee then thy ſoul? And for afflicteddLam. 1.16. Zion, thou weepeſt, thine eye, thine eye runneth down with Tears. Bl…ſed art thou that thus mourneſt;eIſa. 57.1 P. the Lord ſhall reſtore comfort to thee.
4. A man never ſees more emptineſs, unworthineſs and poverty in himſelf, then when he is under the ſtrongeſt groanings of the Spirit; neither is his heart at any time more broken then at the woful ſight thereof.fIſa. 6.5. Wo is me, I am undon &c. For mine eyes have ſeen the King the Lord of Hosts: The Spirit in our mournings isg2 Pet. 1.19. as a light that ſhineth in a dark place. We did not think to have found ſuch nakedneſs and baſeneſs as we do: Again, the Spirit-Groanings are like fire in the Soul: ſuch may the fire be, as it melts down Iron, breaks Rocks and Stones aſunder. It is a good ſign a man is under the Mournings of the Spirit, when findes his corruptions and luſts (hard as flint) to melt and break in pieces, and by the power of the Spirit, conſum'd and brought to nothing.
The groaning of Hypocrites, is like the drawing of a Curtain, whereby things are hid and covered: The more they weep, faſt, and pray, the leſs fight have they of their ſins: For what is the reaſon ſome men ſee not ſo much evil in their wayes, now as they did ſome yeers paſt? I anſwer, in their faſting, and praying ever ſince, they have been drawing curtains over their filthy ſores: Not but that they are far worſe then they were; but they ſee it not, becauſe of their hypocritical Tears.
5. The Spirits Groanings leave two things (eſpecially) upon the Soul. 1. Refreſhment: as when a man hath eaten well, he findes his ſpirits ſtrengthned and comforted: But this is not ſo with unſound hearts. It is reported of Witches, when they have eaten and drunk of the beſt, and to their thinking largely, they find themſelves preſently in a condition ready to ſtarve. Should ſome men ſpeak their experiences, they could not but confeſs, when they have been ſome hours in prayer, and ſighed often, they have been afterward no other then like Pharaoh's lean and ill-favoured kine, not had any ſoul-ſtrengthning or feeling refreſhing at all.
2. The Soul is left in a ſweet and bleſſed frame; as Wax that is ſoft, is fit to take any impreſſion: ſo is a Saint wrought up wholy for God; his will, affections, deſires, run out with Paul, hAct. 9.6.Lord what wilt thou have me to do? That is, I am ready to receive any truth, and to deny my ſelf in every thing, ſo that I may follow thee, and ſerve my Generation.
It is a common ſaying (and I have heard it often) when ſome men talk of faſting and prayer Now (ſay they) beware, there is ſome Plot or other in hand. And uſually it is ſo: For after the Formality of the work is over, their doings are worſe then ever; ſo far fromiIſa. 58.3, 4, 5, 6. looſing the bonds of wickedneſs, and letting the oppreſſed go free, and breaking every yoke, &c. as on the contrary they ſmite with the fist of wickedneſs their fellow-ſervants, and caſt out their Brethren more cruelly then before. But what ſaith Solomon? kPro. 1.3.To do Justice and Judgment, is more acceptable to the Lord then ſacrifice, lHoſ. 6.6.I will have mercy and not ſacrifice.
Seventhly, Becauſe the Lord is teaching Zions Mourners the ART OF SEEKING. Becauſe the Lord is teaching the art of ſeeking.You know by long practiſe and uſe, a man becoms expert and skilful in a trade, eſpecially having a good maſter. This benefit (through Grace) ſome of the Lords people have received, ſince the Apoſtacy, came up; namely, they have been learning the Art of Prayer: for not onelyonly of late yeers, have they been more frequent in the practice, but have gotten more experience of the thing then ever they had before.
According to the Scriptures, men muſt praymMar. 11.24. in faith: nJam. 5.16.with fervency and earneſtneſs: oEph. 6.18.watching thereunto with all perſeverance: pLuk. 18.1.and not faint. If thouſands had thrown ſtones at Goliah, and bigger then David's was, and hit him too; yet I queſtion, whether he had fallen: but that STONE which went out of Davids ſling, ſunk q1 Sam. 17.49.into his forehead, and he fell down dead upon the earth. The Lord hath ſome (I hope many) in the Nation, who are going (as ſo many DAVIDS) againſt the Philiſtine (Babylon and all her Brats and Props.) And howſoever he is curſing them by his gods, and laughs to ſee nothing in their hands, but a ſling and ſtone; onelyonly ſighs and groanings: yet let this HEAVEN-DARING GIANT know, that the Little Stone which he derides, (faith and prayer) ſhall within a little while, ſink into his forehead, and the MONSTER ſhall fall, and his fleſh be given to the fowls of the ayr, and to the beaſts of the field;rVerſe 47. That all the Earth may know that there is a God in Iſrael.
I well remember in the time of the Biſhops, when there roſe up any cruel Perſecutor, the good old Puritants would ſay one to another, Come let us pray this enemy of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt and his people to death. And I could give ſome memorable inſtances, what a wonderful Return of prayer they had, i. e. how the revenging hand of God ſmote the Enemies, ſometimes dead immediately upon the ſighings and groanings of his people againſt them: a warning to all new Perſecutors to look about them: Sions children are crying day and night unto God againſt them; and they have learnt now, the Art of praying, never to be ſilent, till they have prayed them to death, that is, prevail'd with the Lord to execute upon them the judgment written.