A Mirror both for Saints and Sinners, Treatise · Chapter 88
CHAP. LXXXVIII. Examples of the power, and prevalency of Prayer.
IS any sick amongst you? Let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, and the prayer of Faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to the like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years, and six moneths: And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit, Jam. 5▪ 14, &c.
Fervent prayers are effectual, Psal. 34. 4, 6, 15, 17. Matth. 7. 8. Mar. 11. 24. Jam. 1. 5, 6. & 5. 16. Psal. 3. 4. & 107. 6, 13.
God is a Prayer-hearing God, Psal. 65. 2. Delighting in it, Cant. 2. 14. It's as incense to him, Psal. 141. 2. Promising to give if we ask, Luk. 11. 10. Rom. 10. 12. which promise is sealed with the blood of Christ, and back'd with an oath, Mich. 7. 20. Joh. 15. 7. Commanding to ask in full …ssurance, Heb. 10. 22. Jam. 1. 6. Encouraging by Parables, Luk. 11. 8, 9, 11, &c. & 18. 2, &c.
Sighs, and groanes are prayers, Exod. 2. 23, 24. Psal 79. 11. & 12. 5. & 39. 12. & 56. 8. Rom. 8. 26. Isa. 38. 5.
Christ perfumes our prayers with his merits, Rev. 8. 3, 4.
It obtains temporal blessings, 1 King. 18. 42, &c. Zach. 10. 1.
God will be sought to, Ezek. 36. 37.
We shall not seek him in vain, Esay 45. 19.
It must be tendered in the hand of a Mediatour, Matth. 3. 17. Joh 14. 13, 14.
We must see that we belong to God, if we will prevail, Psal. 34. 17. & 73. 1.
Before we ask God heares, Isa. 65. 24. Dan. 9. 23.
Scriptural Examples of the efficacy of Prayer. Abraham praying for Ishmael, Gen. 17. 20. For Sodom, Ch. 18. 23, &c. For Abimelech, Ch. 20. 17. Jacob, Gen. 32. 24, &c. Hose. 12. 4. Moses, Exod. 14. 15. & 15. 25. & 17. 11, &c. Numb. 14. 12, &c. Exod. 32. 10. Numb. 12. 13. & 21. 7. Samuel, 1 Sam. 7. 9. Josuah, Ch. 10. 12. Elijah, 1 King. 17. 20. Elisha, 2 King. 4. 33. Solomon, 1 King. 3. 11. & 9. 3, &c. Asa, 2 Chron. 14. 11. Hezekiah, Isa. 37. 15, &c. Jehosaphat, 2 Chron. 20. 3, &c. Amos, Ch. 7. 2, &c. the Syrophoenician woman, Matth. 15. 22, &c. Importunate widow, Luk. 18. 2, &c. Isaiah, Ch. 62. 1, 6, 7.
The persons of Saints are like secret pledges of common quiet, and their mediations are a shield to the earth against the wrath of heaven.
Gregory Nazianzen reports of his sister Gorgonia, that her knees seemed to cleave to the earth by reason of her often prayiag.
And Gregory of his aunt Trucilla, that her elbow was as hard as an horn, by often leaning upon a desk when she prayed.
And Eusebius of James Justus, that his knees were as hard as a Camels knees, bereaved of sense by often praying.
One reports of Joachim the father of the Virgin Mary, that he used to say, Cibus, & Potus mihi est Oratio: Prayer is my meat, and drink.
A Gentlewoman being in her Parlour exercised in meditation, and prayer, cryed out; O that I might ever enjoy this sweet Communion with God.
The Queen-Mother of Scotland in her Warres against the first Reformers, confessed openly, That she feared more the fasting, and Prayers of that man of God John Knox, and his Disciples, then an Army of twenty thousand men. Looking-Glasse of the Holy War.
Leelin Prince of Wales being perswaded by some about him to make war against our King Henry the third, replyed thus: I am much more afraid of his Almes, and Prayers, then I am of his Armies. Dr. Powel.
Frederick the Elector of Saxony intending to make war against the Archbishop of Magdeburg, sent a Spie into his Countrey to see what preparations the Archbishop made for his own defence. By whom being informed that the Archbishop wholly applyed himself to fasting, and prayer, and reforming his Church; Let him fight (said the Duke) that hath a mind to it; for I am not so…m…d as to fight against him that trusts to have God for his deliver…r. Buchol.
Numa Pompilius being told that his enemies were coming upon him as he was offering sacrifice, thought it sufficient for his safety that he could answer; At ego rem Divinam facio! But I am about the service of my God. Buchol.
Tertullian's manner was constantly in private to pray three times a day, at the third, sixth, and ninth houres. See his Life in my first Part of the Marrow of Eccles. History.
Petrus Chrysologus alwaies before he penned any thing, would with great ardency, and humility, set himself by prayer to seek unto God for direction therein. Eodem. p. 164.
Mr. Laurence Saunders used to be very frequent and fervent in prayer, and when he was assaulted by any temptations, he still found much support, and comfort by prayer, whereby he gained such experience, that he became a great comforter of others with the same consolations which himself had found from God. Eodem, p. 491.
Mr. Hugh Latimer used constantly in his prayers to beg, that God of his mercy would restore his Gospel to England once again, once again, which he often inculcated in his prayers, and that with such ardency as though he had seen God before him, and spoken to him face to face. Eodem, p. 528.
Mr▪ Robert Bol…on used constantly to pray six times a day, twice with his family, twice with his wife, and twice in secret: Besides, he kept many daies of private humiliation; as alwaies before the Sacrament, and upon occasion of the miseries of the Church both at home, and abroad, which he performed with much ardency of spirit. Eodem, p. 926.
Mr. William Whatel…y's constant practice was, besides Family-prayer twice a day, to pray also with his wife, and alone both morning and evening: He also set apart daies of private humiliation for his Family upon special occasions, and oft for their preparation to the Lords Supper, at which time he would exceed himself in pouring out his soul to God with many teares: He was much also in daies of private fasting, and humbling himself alone before God, &c. Eodem, p. 932.
St. Augustine was very powerful in prayer, so that thereby he sometimes cast out Devils, and restored …ck men to their health again. Eodem, p. 160.
Fulgentius was very powerfull in prayer: and before his death the barbarous Moores invading the Territories of Ruspa, filling all places with Rapines, murthers, &c. yet so long as Fulgentius lived, the City of Ruspa remained in safety; and when all the rest of the Province was under miserable captivity, that City alone enjoyed an happy peace. Eodem. p. 176.
Vitus Theodorus writing of Luther, saith thus of him: No day passeth wherein Luther spends not three houres at least in prayer: Once it fell out (saith he) that I heard him: Good God! what a spirit, what a confidence was in his very expressions? with such a reverence he sued as one begging of God; and yet with such hope, and assurance, as if he spake to a loving father or friend: See many examples of his prevalency in prayer in his Life in my first Part. p. 245, &c.
Anno Christi 1564. there brake out a great Plague in Zurick, whereof Mr. Bullinger fell so sick, that all men despaired of his life: But the Church by their frequent, and servent prayers prevailed with God for the restoring of him to health again. Eodem. p. 742.
See an admirable example of the power of prayer in the Life of Mr. Perkins in my first Part, p. 853. and divers other examples in my two Martyrologies.