A Practical Discourse of Prayer, Discourse · Part 2 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of Conſtancy in Prayer.
WE come now to the third and laſt thing held forth in the modification of the practiſe of this duty of prayer, that it be without ceaſing, (i. e.) Indeſinently, or conſtantly. It is then our duty to pray indeſinently, or conſtantly. Now for this, Conſider,
1. What it is to pray indeſinently, or T… pray conſtantly is, 1. Not to give out from prayer.conſtantly, or what is implyed in it? and why we muſt ſo pray? and then make we one briefe Uſe of it.
Touching the firſt: To pray indeſinently or conſtantly is, Not to give out from praying: not to let God alone untill hee doe bleſſe us, To pray and not to faint, Luke 18. 1. Not to give God reſt, Eſa. 62. 61. To look to him in prayer, untill he ſhew us mercy, Pſal. 123. 1, 2.
Queſt. May any true childe of God give off prayer for a ſeaſon? Queſt.
Anſw. Yea verily: Gods own dear Saints may be weary in praying, though Anſw. 1 not ſo weary of prayer. The duty it ſelfe is to them very deſirable, in it ſelfe: but the diſcouragements may be ſuch in tempted times, that they may be even afraid to goe to God, to ſeek his face ſometimes. Pſal. 6. 6. I am weary with my groaning, and 69. 3. Godly ones may give out from prayer for a little ſeaſon.I am weary of my crying, yet hee gave not off wholly, or not long, verſe 13. But as for me, my prayer is unto thee. If they give out for a ſpurt from ſolemn Prayer, they ceaſe not to be darting up ejaculatory prayers. Jonah 2. 4. I ſayd I am caſt out of thy ſight, yet will I looke unto thy holy Temple. When God in deſerted times ſeemeth to turne his back upon his Saints, or they through diſtruſt, and diſtempers are as if turning their back upon him, yet they give many of theſe love-caſts of the eyes of their ſouls towards God; deſires will be ever and anon ſtepping out of ſuch a gracious heart to look after the Lord. That holy fire within the heart albeit it blazeth not out, yet will be ever and anon ſending out theſe ſparks. There are times wherein the Saints are ſo ſpiritually ſick of ſinne and of temptations, that their very ſpeech faileth them; even they have their ſpiritual ſwounds and may lye a while ſpeechleſſe, yet either they are making theſe holy ſignes in their fainting fits, or ſome of this holy breath is ſtirring. If Hezekiah cannot ſpeak out in ſolemne prayer, yet can he chatter, and make theſe ſhorter holy mutterings of his heart, and theſe dove like moanes of his ſpirit. Iſai. 38. 14. I am oppreſſed, O Lord undertake for me.
Queſt. How cometh it to paſſe that any Queſt: ſuch ſad ſilence or ſpeechleſneſſe in reſpect of ſolemn Prayer, doth at any time, or for any ſhorter ſpace befall Gods owne people?
Anſw. Sometimes through ſome dangerous fall into ſome heinous ſin: as other ſpeech is ſometimes loſt by bodily falls, ſo is this by ſuch ſpiritual falls. So David after his 2 By reaſon of ſad falls.great fall into the ſinnes of murder and adultery, lay ſpeechleſſe in this reſpect for a while, Pſal. 32. 3. When I kept ſilence my bones waxed old; ſo do dangerous declinings and backſlidings in religion occaſion ſome Backſliding.temporary ceſſation of ſolemne prayer: hence Iſai 43. 22. Thou haſt not called upon me O Jacob, but haſt been weary of me O Iſrael. So Iſai. 64. 7. There is none that calleth upon thy name, that ſtirreth up himſelfe to take hold of thee. Great guilt breedeth great horrour and great deſpondency of mind and heart, which with unbeliefe blending it ſelfe, cauſeth poor Chriſtians even to give off prayer in their deſperate fits. Look as Heathen Tully ſaid to his brother, I would pray to the Gods for thoſe things, but that they have given over to hear my prayers: or as deſperate Saul, perceiving Strength of unbelief.God anſwereth him no more, will goe to him no more to inquire, 1 Sam. 28. So it is thus far forth with the Saints; ſo far as deſperate diſpondencies grow upon them, and repreſent the Lord to their ſouls as all juſtice, they dare not come to him in theſe fits. Sometimes they pore too much upon diſcouragements, which they meet with in Diſcouragements.prayer, within themſelves alſo: as that they pray with ſo many diſtempers and diſtractions intermixed, and with ſo little life, or liberty of ſpirit, or comfort, or quiet, or faith, or good ſucceſſe, and the like, that as good never a whit, as never the better, and they are even loth ſometimes to goe apart to pray. And ſometimes Chriſtians fall into ſome ſuch errours touching prayer, Errours.as for a time doe take them off from it, imagining that God being a ſpirit muſt be worſhipped only in ſpirit and truth, and ſo not by any bodily worſhip. That bodily exerciſe even in prayer profiteth not; that all outward forms of worſhip are aboliſhed. The Chriſtians muſt have ſome immediate light of the ſpirit, and unwonted ſuggeſtions putting them upon prayer, if at any time they doe ſet upon prayer, if at any time they doe ſet upon prayer. Theſe and ſundry like deluſive principles, too rife in theſe latter dayes, make too great and too long interruptions with too many hopefull profeſſours in this holy exerciſe of ſolemn prayer.
2. To pray indeſinently, is to maintaine 2 To maintain a praying ſpirit.praying diſpoſitions: that albeit we actually pray not without intermiſſion, or doe nothing elſe but pray, (as thoſe fanatical Euthites of old) yet in the inward frame and bent of our heart, wee ceaſe not prayer. There is ſtill a ſpirit in us, crying, Abba Father, Gal. 4. 6. a diſpoſing us upon all occaſions to goe to God as a Father in prayer. Chriſtians of all ſorts, both Miniſters and others, muſt have their vials full of prayers ready ſtill to powre them out, albeit they actually doe not powre them out without intermiſſion. They are to be ready evermore to offer up thoſe holy odours, and that holy incenſe, though not alwaies actually offering the ſame. Revel. 5. 8. The church in its members, muſt have honycomb-lips ready to drop this ſweet, wholſome hony of prayer, albeit they bee not dropping the ſame every moment. Cantic. 4. 11. Thy lips drop as the hony-comb. And good reaſon is it why each gracious perſon ſhould maintain alwayes a praying frame in their hearts; for a praying frame is a moſt A praying frame, a moſt filial frame.ſon-like, child-like frame. If ever the love of ſons and daughters of God be ſtirring in them, it is then: if ever their hearts are filled with holy awe of God, and faith in him, it is then: if ever they are ready to doe any thing for God, it is then. The ſame ſpirit which is to them a ſpirit of ſonnes, a ſpirit of adoption, acteth in them as a ſpirit of Prayer, and where there is a ſpirit moving to Prayer, or cry, Abba Father, there is a ſpirit of adoption: Rom. 8. 15. Againe a frame of Prayer is the moſt A moſt ſweet and comfortable frame.ſweet, calme and comfortable, and thence in Rom. 8. 15. oppoſed to the ſpirit of bondage, working feare, amazing, diſcouraging, ſinking fear. But this breeding and feeding filial boldneſſe, and freeneſſe with God, as a child with his Father.
Againe, it is a moſt free, and beſt priviledged frame of ſpirit: and hence alſo A priviledged frame.oppoſed to that ſervile frame, and imbondaging fear. ibid. Is any free to pray, & free in praying? ſurely thoſe imbondaging cords of ſlaviſh diſtempers are broken in ſunder.
A praying frame is likewiſe a moſt evangelical An evangelical frame.frame: being redeemed from the lawes rigour and confinement, we are moſt at liberty to addreſſe our ſelves thus, as children to our heavenly Father. Gal. 4. 5, 6. To redeeme them that were under the law, that we might receive the Adoption of ſonnes: and becauſe yee are ſonnes, God hath ſent forth the ſpirit of his Sonne in your hearts, crying, Abba Father.
A praying frame is alſo a moſt heavenly A heavenly and gracious frame.and gracious frame. A ſpirit of grace, and a ſpirit of ſupplication, or a ſpirit diſpoſing, or carrying out to powre out holy Supplications, are inſeparable companions. Zech. 12. 10. I will powre out upon them a ſpirit of grace and of ſupplication. No grace is wanting where a ſpirit of prayer is not wanting. All and every grace is ſtirring where that ſpirit of praier is working
A praying frame is an humble frame of heart, the Saints never mourne more ſavingly over their ſinnes, even as crucifying the Lord Jeſus, then when in ſuch a frame. ibid.
A praying frame is a believing frame, An humble and believing frame.and a believing frame is a praying frame; then have they the moſt clear and effectual views of him whom they have pierced. ibid. To conclude this, a praying frame both furthers our delight in prayer, and maketh it every way more eaſie & pleaſant to us: that we are not ſo apt to give out through emergent difficulties or diſcouragements therein; yea, and it furthereth the good ſucceſſe of our praier with the Lord himſelfe.
Queſt. How may a believer maintain in Queſt. himſelfe a praying frame?
Anſw. 1. Let ſuch as would hold up Anſw. 1 ſuch a bleſſed frame in their hearts be daily Helps to maintain a praying frame.ſucking from the flowers of Gods providences and promiſes, ſome ſpiritual ſweetneſſe, and then our ſpiritual combs will bee dropping ripe. Droan-like Profeſſors whilſt they neglect this, and live upon an old ſtock of grace or comfort received, they grow altogether liſtleſſe to prayer, they have enough already, what need they ask more? But this Bee-like diligence in the Saints will make their lips like the dropping honycomb, whence that by way of alluſion, Cantic. 4. 11. And this is done moſtly by Meditation upon Gods word and works.daily meditation, whereby we doe in a holy wiſe ſit, and dwell upon, and draw out the ſweet and ſap which is in Gods words and works. Pſal. 5. 1. Conſider my meditation, he meaneth his prayer. What David ſuck't and brought into the retired corners of his ſoul by holy contemplation, he dropped it out in prayer. Meditation filleth the veſſel of a gracious heart, and prayer broacheth it, openeth the heart, letteth, and poureth out the precious things therein: By meditation we beat the ſpices, and cut the offering to pieces, and lay them in order, fit to be offered, and then we are the fitter to offer the ſame up in prayer. Meditation diggeth and ſearcheth, and findeth out the precious mettals and materials, which being ready at hand, are the ſooner and the better minted in prayer.
2. Let ſuch be improving all praying 2 Improvement of motions to prayer.motions, and ſtirrings. We ſhall never hold on in prayer without ceaſing, 1 Theſ. 5. 17. and in continual prayſing, ver. 18. unleſſe we attend that counſell, verſe 19. Quench not the ſpirit, even in any ſtrong, warme, and lively motions alſo, which he may make that way in our hearts. David, who ſaith, Pſal. 109. 4. That he gave himſelfe to prayer: or as it is in the Hebrew, I prayer, As if made up of prayer, and doing little elſe but praying: he ſaith alſo, Pſal. 27. 8. When thou ſaydſt, ſeek my face; my heart anſwered, thy face Lord will I ſeek: hee did not ſlight or put off, or put by any ſtrong motions of the ſpirit in his heart to ſeek the Lord, but made faithfull and fruitfull improvement thereof. Chriſt putting the Church upon it, to let him hear her voice, Cantic. 2. 14. ſhe verſe 17. hath a request ready for him. And ſo, Chap. 8. 13 Cauſe me to heare thy voice, ſaith Chriſt to the Church. verſe 14. She ſpeaketh prayer-wiſe, Make haſte my beloved. &c.
3. Let ſuch be oft and much in ejaculatory 3 Frequency in ejaculations.praier: we may be ſure to find our hearts in elevated frames, when we have been oft heaving and lifting at them. When wee have been dealing with God juſt before, and have made ſo many ſhort eſſayes, we are the fitter to deale with him more ſolemnly. Moſes was (as I may ſay) tampering and catching at the Lord thus, before he ſpake out ſo ſolemnly, as Exod. 32, 11, 12, 13. Lord why doth thy wrath waxe hot againſt thy people? &c. For God (verſe 10.) ſaith to Moſes, let me alone. When we have ſo oft whiſpered thus with God beforehand, we are the fitter to, talk and ſpeak out before him. Pſal. 61. 1. Hear my cry, attend to my prayer; yet nothing expreſſed what hee ſayd▪ he was at it in ejaculatory crying, and praying, and thence is ſo bent for more ſolemne prayer, expreſſed in the verſes following. From the end of the earth will I cry to thee, &c. Theſe running graſps and trips do much help our holy wreſtling, praying-art and skill, and courage: when we do in ejaculatory prayers oft ſally out upon our ſpiritual enemies, ſinne, Sathan, and the world, we are the fitter to maintaine a ſolemne fight againſt them in our more ſolemne prayers.
4. Let ſuch maintaine in their ſoules 4 Poverty of ſpirit.that precious frame, poverty of Spirit. That will teach us praying eloquence, help us much with praying Arguments, and quicken up in us all praying deſires, as we ſee perſons pinched with extreame wants and penury: of all others, the poore oppreſſed ones (as the Hebrew is) Pſal. 10. 17. have their hearts ſet, and fitted by God for prayer: Lord, thou haſt heard the deſire of the poore, thou wilt prepare (or fix) their heart (namely to pray) thou wilt cauſe thine eare to heare: namely their prayer.
3. To pray indeſinently, is to be very 3 To pray very often.frequent in prayer; ſo we uſe to ſay, you are alwayes doing thus or thus: wee meane, you are very often doing ſo, Joh. 16. 23, 24. Ye have asked nothing (i. e.) but very ſeldome; Aske; that is, more frequently; frequent prayer keepeth every grace active; frequent uttering our wants, and Ayles, keepeth us humble; the often opening of our ſpirituall wounds keepeth us tender; the more wee trade with God about heavens Commodities, the more it keepeth up the price of them in our hearts; wee then vend, and utter them readily, in other parts of our holy converſation; and making quicker ſale that way, we make the quicker returne againe to God for more.
Queſt. How oft muſt we pray? Queſt.
Anſw. As oft as opportunity is offered Anſw. (as was ſaid before) yet twice a day at the leaſt, muſt bee to us a time of praying. How oft we muſt pray.Hen… that morning and evening ſacrifice of old, unto which the Prophet alludeth, and calleth it a ſeeking of God evermore; as held out in his Tabernacle, Pſal. 105. 4. The very Birds, morning and evening (and ſome alſo (as the Nightingale) in the night alſo) are in their manner lifting up their notes unto their maker, and maintainer. Give us this day our daily bread, muſt needs imply a daily prayer for it: and as twice a day (at leaſt) our bodies need ſupply of bread, ſo is it ſit, that both body and ſoule be imployed twice a day in ſolemn ſeeking of the Lord about that, and all other things which we need, or the bleſſings of the Lord thereupon.
Queſt. Suppoſe a Chriſtian take the Queſt. ſeaſons of morning and evening for family prayer; muſt he likewiſe take the ſame ſeaſons for cloſet prayer alſo?
Anſw. Yea, we ſhould as much as Anſw. in us lyeth, and the providence of God miniſtreth opportunities of it, indeavour the ſame; one duty may not willingly bee omitted becauſe of the other. It hath been proved that both are duties, and the Saints will have reſpect to all, and every of Gods Commandements: As a Chriſtian is conſidered ſingly and abſolutely, ſo cloſet, ſecret retired prayer apart lyeth upon him; but as in relation to others, ſo alſo prayer with others is his duty; as his eſtate is, ſo is his bond of duty doubled. The carnall heart of man will more cavill, and ſtartle at ſecret prayer by our ſelves alone, then at that with others: our natures will leſſe eaſily be ſtrangers to ſervices, to which others are privie (as we ſee in Hypocrites, and Familiſts.) than to ſuch as the Lord onelyonly beholdeth: but no wiles or ſlights of our hearts or Satan, ſhould draw us from a commanded duty in Scripture. And indeed, we under the Goſpel ſhould not be leſſe in holy ſerving of God with our ſpirits, than thoſe under the Law, but rather more. Hence it is, that the wooden or Incenſe Altars for the incenſe of prayer, is in Ezekiel Typically repreſented to be much larger under the times of the Goſpel, than ever under the Law. That under the Law was a Cubit in length, a Cubit in breadth, and two Cubits in height. Exod. 30. 1, 2, 3. That which Ezekiel ſeeth in viſion is three Cubits high, and two Cubits long, the breadth is indefinite, and unlimited. Ezek. 44. 22. Shewing, that the Saints under the Goſpel would make much more improvement of the Lord Jeſus (their holy Altar) in prayer, and make uſe of his mediation, and Interceſſion by Faith, in their heavenly ſublimated ſupplications, for height more ſublime, for continuance more ſtable, and laſting &c. than the Saints of old were ordinarily wont to doe. Hence a Spirit of ſupplication promiſed in thoſe dayes, not to be barely dropped, but abundantly to bee poured out upon the Saints. Zech. 12. 10.
4. To be indeſinent in prayer, is to be 4 To be conſtant in a courſe of prayer.conſtant in a courſe of prayer daily, implyed alſo in dayly prayer to be made for daily bread: Hence Paul injoyning praying alwayes, joyneth perſevering or holding on our courſe in prayer. Eph. 6. 18. ſo Col. 4. 2. Continue inſtant in prayer.
As for Reaſons why we ought to pray Reaſons why we muſt pray conſtantly.thus indeſinently, they are briefly theſe.
1. In that the Lord is very conſtant 1 God is conſtant in calling upon us.in calling upon us. Eſa. 65. 12. He daily ſpreads out his hands to us: we may well bee daily lifting up our hearts and hands to him.
2. In that Jeſus Chriſt intercedeth for 2 Chriſt is conſtant in pleading for us.us without ceaſing, he ever liveth to make interceſſion for us, coming unto God by him. It is all his worke in a manner, Heb. 7. 15. and 9. 14. Therefore wee may well be ſo much taken up with this buſineſſe of prayer.
3. In that the maine matters of our 3 Choice things beg'd are perpetuall.prayers are everlaſting matters; and everlaſting mercies call for inceſſant prayers; yea the prayſes one day to bee returned for anſwers of prayers, will be everlaſting, and there would bee ſome proportion of perpetuity in our holy prayers.
4. In that the Lord ceaſeth not bleſſing of us, till we ceaſe begging: but if we 4 God continueth to bleſſe whileſt wee continue to aske.give out from praying, hee will forbear his wonted giving: ſo long as Abraham held on asking, the Lord held on anſwering. Gen. 18. When Abraham left off Communing with the Lord, he goeth up from Abraham. If Joaſh be ſcanty in ſmiting with his darts, his victories over the Syrians are the leſſe. 2 Kings 13. 18, 19. Fewer ſpirituall wreſtlings will iſſue in fewer ſpirituall Conqueſts. The oyle of grace ſtill runneth, as long as there are empty veſſels to receive the ſame. As ſometime Sir Walter-Raleigh anſwered Queen Elizabeths demand: when he would leave begging of her: not till your Majeſty (ſaid he) ceaſe giving: ſo ſhould we, perceiving that whileſt wee ſeek the Lord, he is found of us. As 2 Chron. 15. 2. We ſhould reſolve, to hold on ſeeking, pray as long as wee proſper in it.
5. In that, holy conſtancy in prayer, 5 Conſtancy in prayer argueth integrity in it.will bee an argument of moſt integrity in it. The Hypocrite will not pray alwayes. Job. 27. 8, 10. They are elect ones which are ſo inceſſant in prayer. Cry night and day, Luke 18, 7. They are naturall fruits to trees, which they bring forth conſtantly. So conſtancy in holy prayer, argueth prayer to be in a holy wiſe naturall to us as Saints, and that there is in us ſome praying nature: It is a beame of Divine Immutability, amidſt variety of Changes in other things, yet to be inchangeable in our way and courſe of holineſſe, and ſo of prayer. The Saints as Saints, whatever their changes otherwiſe may be, yet are ſuppliants. Zeph. 3. 10. From beyond the river of Aethyopia ſhall my ſuppliants come. That is, my Saints, my effectual called ones, which will be continually, even naturally making holy ſupplications to me. If abroad, they are conſcionable of prayer, and ſo likewiſe if at home. If free, then free to pray; if bond, yet the Lords free men to pray. In priviledged and peaceable times, they continue praying, and ſo they doe in boyſterous and troubleſome times; whilſt the light of God ſhineth in their tabernacles, and on their ſpirits, they labour in prayer; and ſo in darkneſſe of temptations, afflictions, &c. and yet they hold on praying.
6. In that ſpecial and deſirable benefits, 6 Special bleſſings attained by conſtancy in prayer.come by conſtancy in prayer: for which onelyonly conſider that place, Luke 21. 34, 35, 36. Its a ſpecial help againſt all worldly temptations. If we would not be far charged with cares of this life, pray alwayes. Men much in prayer with God are ever the moſt weaned from the world. They have ſo many ſweet diſcourſes with God, that other talks with the world are more harſh and burthenſome to them; they are ſo oft in ſpeech with the Spouſe of their ſouls, that they cannot affect to ſpeak familiarly with that Strumpet. They are ſo much in heaven, that their ſpirits cannot bee much in earth. Pſal. 3. 19, 20. They drive ſo rich and gainful a trade in that celeſtial City, that they have little liſt or delight to bee pedling elſewhere about trifles. They fare ſo well at their fathers houſe, that they care not for the devils husks, or the worlds ſcraps. It is likewiſe a meanes to eſcape the diſpleaſure of God, which lighteth upon others; to eſcape that which cometh as a ſnare, which taketh and holdeſt faſt, and bruiſeth, cruſheth, and killeth others. ibid. Beſides, it is a means to fit us for Chriſts ſecond coming. Pray alwayes, that ye may bee accounted worthy to eſcape all theſe things, and to ſtand before the Sonne of man. Perſons much in prayer do ſo oft ſet up Tribunals in their owne hearts, ſo frequently doe they make up juſt accounts with God in Chriſt, and ſo many times in their prayers are they making references of matters unto that day, that they familiarize with their Judge, and do in a manner facilitate the buſineſſe of that day, ſo far as it concerneth them.
But here we might juſtly reprove ſuch Uſe. in our dayes, who have formerly been more conſtant in family, and poſſibly in Cloſet Prayer, but now leave it off, ſeldome or never pray in their cloſets, and will not joyne with others in prayer. This is charged upon hypocrites as their guiſe, and garbe, Job 27. 10. Will hee alwayes call upon God?
Queſt. Whence cometh it to paſſe that any Cauſes of ceaſing in praier.faint, or grow weary, or ceaſe from praying? Queſt.
Anſw. Many bring with them to prayer Anſw. 1 too many incumbrances, and they tyre 1 Incumbrances in prayer.them; they cannot travell on, to hold out in a courſe of prayer, when they uſe themſelves to carry ſo much luggage with them.
2. Many do but ſlightly waſte their time in 2 Slightneſſe in prayer.prayer, to no purpoſe, & ſo getting nothing by this their trade, they grow weary of it, and men ſhut up ſhop (as I may ſay.) It is bootleſſe they perceive, and in vaine for them to pray any longer. Mal. 3. 14.
3. Many have ſome ſecret wounds or 3 Secret wounds and diſtempers.diſeaſes, yet unhealed, they are annoyed with ſome malignant diſtempers of heart, with ſome predominant luſts, and ſo come to faint and give out. They began this holy courſe, and ſet out with others in this ſpiritual way, but cannot hold out with them, their hearts not being ſound and right within them, they draw back, and that to perdition: their heart is lifted up, and not upright within them, and ſo cannot make any ſpiritual living of it. In this way of exerciſe of faith, Hab. 2. 4. whereas the juſt hold on living by faith, theſe draw back, Heb. 10. 38. Their hearts being not ſound in Gods ſtatutes, they ſuſtaine the ſhame of Apoſtaſie. Pſal. 119. 80.
4. Many doe not conſcionably receive 4 Letting ſlip the words of God.and retaine the holy food of their ſouls, the word of God, which ſhould and would keep us, and preſerve the ſpirits of their ſoules in running this path of a Chriſtians courſe, and race, and way. Careleſſe and unprofitable hearers will not, cannot hold on long, or with any life, a courſe of prayer. Whilſt Chriſtians are lively and fruitfull in hearing the word, they are lively, fruitfull, and conſtant in prayer; but they that give, the bare hearing to the Prophets words, minding other matters whilſt they are hearing, Ezek. 33 31, 32. They are heartleſs, and liſtleſs altogether in ſeeking unto God that they might live. v. 10, If our iniquities bee upon us, and wee pine away in our ſinnes, how ſhould wee then live? They think it loathſome to look, or ſpeak to God about it.