A Practical Discourse of Prayer, Discourse · Part 1 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Of the diverſe kinds of Prayer. And firſt of Ejaculatory Prayer.
HAving ſpoken of Prayer in general, we come now to ſpeak of the ſpecies and ſorts of Prayer: and therein firſt of ſudden or Ejaculatory Prayer, In reſpect of which, we may be ſaid to pray, and muſt alſo pray without ceaſing. He who enjoyneth us indefinitely to pray without ceaſing, commandeth us alſo to pray in an ejaculatory way, Epheſ. 6. 18. Pray with all Prayer, or all manner of Prayer, and ſo this alſo. Ejaculatory prayer is either mental only, or vocal alſo.
Ejaculatory prayer Mental is a ſhort, yet ſerious and ſincere lifting up of the hearts deſires and ailes unto the Lord; the mind (as it were) inwardly uttering the ſame to him. Thus Jehoſhaphat cryed to the Lord, 2 Chron. 18. 31. And thus Samſon called upon the Lord, and ſaid, (in Gods hearing, not in the lads hearing that led him) O Lord God remember me, &c. Judg. 16. 28. Thus Nehemiah chap. 2. 4, 5. praied unto the God of Heaven, yet the King then preſent, neither heareth a whiſper, nor ſeeth any motion of his lips, whilſt Nehemiah is thus ſpeaking a word or two of moment to the King of Kings. Moſes his mental ſpeaking to God, was a loud cry in the Lords ears; he ſpake nothing vocally, yet Exod. 14: 15. Why cryeſt thou, ſaith the Lord? Believers are to God through Chriſt a ſpiritual Temple and houſe, that within this houſe alſo, in the innermoſt part thereof, this holy incenſe of Ejaculatory Prayer may be offered to the Lord with acceptance, 1 Pet. 2. 4, 5.
Ejaculatory Prayer vocal, is a holy Apoſtrophe, or turning ones ſpeech to God Ejaculatory Prayer deſcribed.prayer-wiſe, in ſome ſhort, yet pithy expreſſions from what a gracious perſon is think. ing, ſaying, doing, or ſuffering. Thus Jacob breaks off his continued ſpeech in bleſſing his ſons, turning himſelf to God, O Lord, I have waited for thy ſalvation, Gen. 49. 18. So Iſaiah from threatning the Aſſyrians, Iſai. 33. 1. turneth prayer-wiſe to God, v. 2. O Lord be merciful unto us. So Micah in like ſort, chap. 7. 13, 14. Feed thy people with thy rod. Thus Chriſt breaketh off his ſpeech to his Diſciples, and turneth it to his Father, John 12. 26, 27, 28. Father glorifie thy name, &c. Thus Luke 22. 40, 41, 42. From reproving his fellow doth the penitent Thief turn his ſpeech to Chriſt, Lord remember me in thy Kingdom. Thus Nehemiah amidſt his reforming work, oftentimes turneth him to God thus, Remember me, O my God concerning this, &c Nehem. 13. 13, 14, 21, 22.
Let us now ſpeak a little of the excellency The excellency of Ejaculatory Prayerand neceſſity of the duty of praying without ceaſing in an ejaculatory way, give Reaſons for it and apply it. The excellency hereof may appear, both by the Nature and by the riſe of it. It is (as I may ſay) the firſt breath of a Regenerate man: as ſoon as a It's a Saints firſt breathingman is born again, he thus at leaſt cryeth, Abba Father. In that ye are the ſons of God he hath ſent out the ſpirit of his ſon into your hearts, crying Abba Father, Gal. 4. 6. And when his body breathes its laſt, this is a gracious perſons laſt breathing. Hence ſuch It is a Saints laſt breathing.parting cryes of Gods children at the ſtake, in the flames, amidſt the ſtones, on a Croſs &c. Lord receive my ſpirit: into thy hands I commend my ſpirit. And ſuch were Stephens, who was ſtoned, calling on the Lord, and ſaying, Lord Jeſus receive my ſpirit, Lord lay not this ſin to their charge. The laſt words of the Worthies of God, we account to be moſt memorable, and to have ſome ſpiritual excellency inſtamped upon them; and theſe words are ſuch like Ejaculations. If it were poſſible to hear the laſt whiſpers of the Saints ſouls, as ready to leave their bodies, they would be found to be ſuch like breathings of their deſire to him to whom they are going. Ejaculatory Prayer alſo is the firſt and laſt of ſet and ſolemne It is the α and ω of Solemn Prayer.Prayer, when rightly performed. God prepareth the heart of the humble to pray acceptably, even by theſe preparatory liftings up of the heart a prayer-wiſe. Pſal. 10. 17. The heart is firſt thus prepared, then the hand that way ſtretched out, Job 11. 13▪ Look upon Solomon in that preſidental prayer of his 1 Kings 8. 22. his hands ſpread to heaven before he ſpake, ſhewed where his he art was lifted before hand. The laſt alſo of Solemn prayer, is iſſued in an Ejaculation, an Ejaculatory Amen, comprehending the cloſing deſires, and feeling motions of faith to all before pleaded for. All the prayers of a gracious Suppliant are not ended with his continued ſpeech in prayer; no, his heart is lifting and lifting; as you ſee a bel-rope oft hoiſing up after you have done ringing the bell. Many a long look and heart wiſh followeth ſuch an ones deſire to heaven, and all together come before the Lord for mercy. Hence the Lord, as hee is nigh to them that call upon him, ſo he fulfilleth the deſires of them that fear him, Pſal. 145. 18, 19. Solomons heart was as well left in heaven after the end of his prayer, whereof his fixed eyes there, was a ſpeaking ſign, (1 King. 8. 54.) as gotten thither before he began, ver. 22. Ejaculatory prayer It is the ſpirits of ſolemn prayer.is the very quinteſſence of ſolemn praier; it is the very ſpirit into which that is diſtilled and reſolved. When a gracious perſons heart is left in heaven, uttering its after-requeſts, now praier was well carried on. Theſe ſhorter poſtſcripts written after the other longer letter indited by the ſpirit, and directed to the Lord, they have ever ſomething of note and worth. This epitom… of praier, how ſolid is it? So much for a taſte of the nature of it.
Let us withall conſider of this holy duti… It is the eccho of the ſpirit.of ejaculatory praier in the ſpring and riſe thereof: and namely, thoſe lively and forceable …bounds of the gracious ſpirit of a Saint of God, moved by the hand of the ſpirit of God. Ejaculatory praier is the harmonious ſweet-ſounding eccho of the ſpirit, fore-ſpeaking to the heart. …hen thou ſaidſt, Seek my face, there is the Lords voice: my heart anſwered▪ thy face, Lor… will I ſeek; there is the eccho, Pſal. 27. 8. David before he is ſolemnly praying as afterward he is, v. 9, 10. He turneth his ſpeech to the Lord, telling him what his heavenly deſires ſay: I [will ſeek thy face, or my hearts deſires are ſo to doe. Ejaculations It is the venting of a heart full of the ſpirit.are the ſpiritual ventings and breathings of a gracious heart, filled with the wine of the ſpirit, (Eph. 5. 19.) very precious, verie pleaſant to the taſte of the Lord. Sometimes the Saints hearts are ſo filled with a ſpirit of holy joy, ſometimes of praiſe, ſometimes of love to the Lord, that variety of holy deſires preſsing faſt on, they are forced to give them vent by ſhort ejaculations. Ejaculations are the holy evaporations of a heart throughly warmed with ſome ſpecial workings of faith and love of Chriſt. When Davids heart is thus boyling hot, (Pſal. 45. 1.) he breaketh off his diſcourſe from Chriſt, verſe 2. and breatheth out ſuch holy deſires unto Chriſt, verſe 3. gird thy ſword upon thy thigh, &c. and verſe 4. Ride, proſperouſly. And then on againe to his diſcourſe, verſe 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Ejaculations are the holy ſparks aſcending up one after another, from the ſtirring of the fired coales of the Spirit in the heart. From the holy admiration of God and his goodneſſe, power, wiſedome, faithfulneſſe, &c. proceed holy ejaculations. From that tranſcendency of Gods diſpenſations to Aſaphs reaſon, who had his hearts fore-diſcourſes about the ſame, proceeds, that Verily, or nevertheleſſe God is good to Iſrael. Pſal. 73. 1. From Micahs admiring at the unparallel'd grace of God, Mic. 7. 18. Who is a God like unto thee? verſe 19. Hee telleth the Church what God will doe, hee will turne againe, and will ſubdue our iniquities; and then maketh his Apoſtrophe to the Lord, [Thou wilt] ca…t all their ſinnes into the depth of the ſea: and verſe 20. Thou wilt performe the truth to Jacob. God calleth for theſe holy Apoſtrophes from this ground of admiration at his marvellous providences, Pſal. 66. 3. Say unto God, how terrible art thou in thy works! The excellency of this fruit, muſt needs partake of the excellency of ſuch a root as is an admiring frame.
Ejaculations ariſe from the ſpiritualizing of the heart upon any occaſion. As when Its the firſt fruit of a ſpiritualized heart.David is ſpiritual in contemplation of the works of God, Pſal. 8. 3, 4. When I conſider thy heavens, &c. his heart in ejaculatory wiſe ſaith, Lord what is man that thou art thus mindfull of him? So when he was in a lively manner muſing upon the immenſity of God, Pſal▪ 139. 1. to 17 Hee thence breaketh out thus, How precious are thy thoughts to me, oh God! From the veiw taken of Gods juſtice or mercy, or from any holy diſcourſe with others about the ſame, or from ſinging, and ſounding forth Gods praiſes wherein the Saints are ſpiritual, ariſeth ſome holy ejaculations or other. In all theſe, and each of theſe was Deborah ſo ſpiritual, Judg. 5. from verſe 1. to the laſt, whence that ejaculatory praier of hers, So let thine enemies periſh oh Lord; but let thoſe that love thee be like the Sun in its might. If the Lord breath upon our hearts at his table, or in his word, the ſpirit of God draweth out our hearts to ſend ſome ejaculatory lift of praier, either in way of petition, or thankſgiving, or the like, When the Lord Jeſus ſpeakes effectually to Johns heart, I come quickly, thence ſprings his ejaculatory Amen, even ſo come Lord Jeſus, come quickly. Revel. 22. 20. Chriſt effectually preaching that hard leſſon of brotherly forgiveneſſe; It cauſed that ejaculation from them, Lord increaſe our faith, Luk. 17. 1, 2, 3, 4. with 5. If David hear that word twice, that all power belongs to God, Pſal. 62. 11. his ſpirit is elevated to make this ſhort hearty ſpeech, verſe 12. Alſo to thee O Lord belongeth mercy. From the Angels lively diſcourſe with Mary about Chriſt, who was to be incarnate, and to be formed in her; her heart being warmed, ſhee turneth her ſpeech to the Lord, who ſent that his angel, Be it to thy ſervant according to thy word, Luke 1. 38. So then holy ejaculations are the very ſpirits of the ſpiritual workings of God, or at the leaſt wiſe from the Lords ſpiritualizing of his Saints, in his providences, or ordinances, and therefore great in their excellency.
Let us add another infallible Argument of the excellency of this duty, of ejaculatorie Its of choice reſpect with God.praier, and that is from the high eſteem and real reſpects which God himſelfe hath expreſſed thereof. Habbacucks diſcourſe, chap. 3. though moſt what doctrinal, and onelyonly ſomething mentioned in a ſhort way of petition, verſe 2. and of praiſing God. verſe 18, 19. yet as from the moſt excellent part in Gods account, it is all called his prayer, ver. 1. The penitent thiefs ejaculation, Lord remember me when thou comeſt into thy Kingdome, is graciouſly owned and anſwered by Jeſus Chriſt, This day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe, Luk. 23. 41, 42. The Publican ejaculatorily praying, Lord be mercifull to me a ſinner, goeth away juſtified, Luk 18. 13, 14. yea that ejaculatory Apoſtrophe of Moſes to God, Ex. 5. end, Why haſt thou ſo evilly intreated the people? yet hath its gracious returne from the Lord, chap. 6. 1. Then ſaid the Lord, Now ſhalt thou ſee what I will do to Pharoah. The Iſraelites at the red ſea were ſo afraid with a diſtruſtfull fear, that Moſes bids them not to feare, Exod▪ 14 13. yet being thus afraid, they cryed unto the Lord, verſe 10. 12. and both Nehemiah, chap. 9. 9. and Joſhua. chap. 24. 7. teſtifieth, that God heard that crie of theirs, and put darkneſſe betwixt them and the Egyptians, and drowned the Egyptians in the red ſea. David when in ſuch a hurry of diſtruſt, that he ſaid to God, I am cut off from thy ſight, yet ſaith, nevertheleſſe thou heardeſt the voyce of my ſupplications, (Pſal. 31. 22.) the many ſhort prayers which he then made. Ejaculations are but ſhort breathings of the Saints ſpirits, but being breathed once, they ſcarce ever expire in reſpect of the efficacies and iſſues of them. Theſe ſhort ſpeeches are (as I may ſay) beſt remembred, their memorials are of a very long date with the Lord. That grey-headed ejaculation of Noah, God perſwade Japhet to dwell in the tents of Shem, hath had, now hath, and ſtill will have its anſwer, in the Gentiles, of Japhets coming into the fellowſhip with the Church. Gen. 9. 27. The day of judgement [that day] although not a ſeaſon of praying, yet of full anſwers of ſuch like praiers made with reſpect to the day. Pauls ſhort prayer, 2 Tim. 1. 18. The Lord ſhew mercy to the houſe of Oneſiphorus, at [that day] ſhall have then a full return. At that day when the Saints treaſures layd up in heaven ſhall bee opened, theſe leſſer peices ſhall have their weight, worth and uſe, when it ſhall bee ſaid, theſe and theſe have been the prayers of ſuch and ſuch of the Saints, and theſe and theſe are the iſſues and fruits of them to ſuch and ſuch.
Thus much touching the excellency of The neceſſity of ejaculatory prayer by reaſon of Sudden ſtraits.ſuch ejaculations: now of the neceſſity thereof. The Saints ſudden ſtraits require prayer, but will not afford time for continued prayer: Room now then for ejaculatory praier. At this dead lift now Moſes his cry will doe well, Exod. 14. 15. Then Jehoſhophat muſt hye to heaven, when begirt with blood thirſty men; in continued prayer hee cannot, but by ejaculatory prayer he may, 2 Chron. 18 31. Then Jehoſhaphat cryed to the Lord. Scrabling is but a poore ſhift for David, when known in the preſence of the King of Gath, 2 Sam. 21. 10, 11, 12, 13. and when no place or ſpace for ſolemne prayer, then welfare ejaculatory prayer, Pſal. 32. title, with verſe 4, 6. I ſought the Lord and he heared me; this poore man cried, and the Lord heard him and ſaved him. Aſa, when to join battel, thus cryed unto the Lord his God, with marvellous ſucceſſe, 2 Chron. 14. 11. David in that ſtrait prayeth againſt Achitophels counſels, Lord turne Achitophels counſel into fooliſhneſſe, 2 Sam. 15. 31. and the iſſue ſheweth it took, 2 Sam. 17. 23. Moſes among a company of murmurers, Exod. 15 24. hath none fit to joyne in prayer in a more ſolemne way, yet verſe 25. though he ſpake nothing vocally, hee cryed thus effectually; he cryed to the Lord, and he ſhewed him a tree to make the bitter waters ſweet; Philiſtins are upon the Iſraelites, then is onelyonly roome for Samuels ejaculatory crye, 1 Sam. 8. 7, 8, 9. and Samue… cryed unto the Lord and he heard him. Hezekiahs deadly ſickneſſe will onelyonly give him leave to pray thus, 2 King. 20. 1, 2, 3, 7. he… turned his face to the wall and prayed, O… Lord remember me, &c. Sudden and ſtrong tentations diſable David to make ſuch continued prayer, but hee will then make man… Tentations.of theſe ejaculatory requeſts, Pſal. 30. 22▪ Nevertheleſſe thou heardeſt the crye of … [ſupplications] when I cryed to thee. Great griefs and preſages fill the Saints hearts, and lay their ſpeech, but then their hearts burſt forth into inutterable ſighs & groans, whoſe meaning the Lord knoweth, Rom. 8. 26.
Surely Saints, as men of tender conſciences, ever and anon offending indeed, but Failings.as frequently ſmitten in their hearts for it, cannot but bee often put upon it, in the interims of continued prayer, to beſpeak mercy and pardon whileſt their hearts are thus afflicted, 2 Sam. 24. 10. And Davids heart ſmote him for numbring the people, and David ſaid unto the Lord, I have ſinned, &c. I beſeech thee take away the iniquity of thy ſervant. And as ſudden faults of ours, ſo ſudden ſtroaks of God put the Saints upon this, 2 Sam. 24. When David ſaw the Angel ſmiting the people, he ſaid, It is I that have ſinned, what have theſe ſheep done? Sudden injuries from men cauſe an injured Injuries.Jepthah to make his ſhort appeale to the Lord, ſaying, The Lord be Judge betwixt Iſrael and Ammon, Judg. 11. 27, Iſrael injuriouſly begirts Judah, and no other help for them but this. Judah cryed unto the Lord, Enemies.2 Chron 13. 14, 15. Pharaoh with an huge hoſt hath Iſrael at an advantage, and they muſt needs then thus crye out unto the Lord. Enemies unexpected ſcornes of the Saints, put the Saints upon theſe ſhort appeals, Nehem. 4. 4, 5. Hear, Oh our God, f…r we are deſpiſed. Their ſudden affrighting of them doth as much; they all made us afraid Now therefore, O our God ſtrengthen my hands, Neh. 6. 9 The preſent hearing of the Princes good will to the Commonwealth put forth godly Subjects then preſent to affix their Ejaculatory Amen thereto, 1 Kings 1. 36. Amen, the Lord thy God ſay ſo too. A ſudden hand of God upon others put godly Judgments God.Moſes upon it thus to pray for Miriam. O Lord heal her, &c. Numb. 12. 13. and godly Hezekiah to pray for his people, The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to ſeek the Lord, though not ſo prepared. And the Lord hearkned and healed the people, 2 Chron 30 18, 19. Any ſudden notice of ſome ſpecial ſervice of God, unto Special ſerviceswhich ſome of the Saints are addreſſing themſelves, muſt needs put others that hear thereof by ſuch ſudden lifts of their hearts, to give them a lift therein. Is David going to a ſolemn Sacrifice, godly A…aunah will thus wiſh him good ſpeed, 2 Sam. 24. 23. The Lord thy God accept thee. Eli perceiving Hannahs Prayer-buſineſs, 1 Sam. 1. 16 cannot but add his fiat alſo, ver. 17. The God of Iſrael grant thee thy petition. Sudden weighty changes of ſome of the Saints in their Changesoutward condition, put others that hear of it upon this holy ſervice of love to them; as Boaz his godly neighbours, Ruth 4. 11, 12. The Lord make this woman like Rachel and Lea…, &c. Sudden and unexpected Kindneſſes otherskindneſſes ſhewed to the Saints, will put them to ſpeed ſuch a kind of Meſſenger as this to heaven, preſently to tell their Father of it. Ruth 2 19, 20. Naomi ſeeing Boaz his kindneſs to his daughter Ruth, ſaith Bleſſed be he of the Lord, that hath not left off his kindneſs to the living and to the dead. Beſides, even one Ejaculation of the Saints, Continuation of Prayerputs them upon making more, upon praying thus alſo without ceaſing. One Ejaculation begetteth another. Iſai. 26. 9. With my ſoul have I deſired thee in the night, yea, with my ſpirit within me will I ſeek thee early: becauſe they had thus prayed, they will pray yet more. Pſal▪ 62. 1, Hear my cry, attend to my prayer; (yet no words there of mentioned;) and ver 2. From the end of the earth will I cry; he had thus cryed, and he will therefore cry againe and again: As billowes of ten ptation ever and anon ſtop his mouth and …n…errupt him, ſo as he now and then doth but peep above water, and get breathing ſpace; he will thus cry, Lead me, or guide me, or carry me to yonder rock which is higher then I. Hence Jonah in his periſhing condition mentioneth his Praiers (plurally) there were many of theſe ſhort Praiers like Meſſengers ſent Poſte in ſome great and preſent ſtreſs one after the other, to ſpeed ſuccor from heaven J…n. 2. 1. 2, 7. My [Praiers] came in unto thee.
Yea, theſe holy Traders with Heaven, uſing to make as quick returnes, as ſpeedy dealings thus with the Lord; as they gain upon the Lord, they are ſuddenly ſending for more, and beſpeaking yet more bleſſing from him. When Moſes by his ſhort Prayer… hath got a grant of God, My preſence ſhal… go with thee (Exod, 33 12, 13, 15, 16. compared) then doth he in a holy wiſe grow upo… God. He hath one ſhort, yet no ſmal requeſ… more ver. 18. I beſeech thee ſhew me thy glory. And chap. 34. 9. he hath another requeſ… yet more, Pardon our iniquities, and take u… for thine inheritance. So Abrahams ſhor… requeſts as they are granted, Gen. 18. ſo they multiply, If there be fifty, Lord, in Sodom, wil… thou not ſpare it? and then if but forty five, then if forty, then if thirty, then if twenty, then if ten.
Thus much alſo be ſpoken to ſhew the neceſſity Reaſons why▪ 1 From the honor it puts on God.of this Duty in ſundry reſpects. Let us now briefly add a Reaſon or two yet further to enforce this duty.
The firſt is taken from the nature and property of this duty, which honoureth the Lord in a ſpecial manner, as a glorious In his immenſity and Omniſcience.Spirit, which needeth not any words of ours to expreſs what we would to him. He can hear the holy language and ſpeech of our ſpirits; he underſtandeth the meaning of ſighes not to be expreſſed, Rom. 8. 26. Ejaculatory Prayer proclaimeth the Lord, that he is not as the Idol Gods, who needeth not to be awakened by loud out-cryes, as 1 Kings 18. 27, as Elijah derided Baals Prieſts, wiſheth them to cry aloud, &c. Who needeth not to be carryed up and down as dunghil Gods do, Jer. 10. 5. No, this proclaimeth to all the world, that the God of the Saints is an all-ſeeing God, eſpying the leaſt moving of their deſires to him; that he is in all, and through all, and filleth every place; yea, that he is a very preſent help at any dead lift; that he is a God hearing Prayers, all ſorts of Prayers, the ſhorteſt of them. If Ephraim but liſp and wiſper out, Turn thou me, and I ſhall be turned, &c. God ſaith, I have ſurely heard him; Jer. 31. 18, 19, 20. If Iſrael take unto them words prayer-wiſe, though but ſhort, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciouſly, &c. God can, and will ſay. I have ſurely heard him and obſerved him, Hoſ. 14. 1, 2, 3, 8. This glorifieth him, as one who aſſuredly waites to be gracious, that any ſuch cry and whiſper as this is of the Saints, is attended by him, Iſai. 30. 18. The Lord waits to be gracious; and ver. 19, is a demonſtration thereof, The Lord will be very gracious at the voice of thy cry.
The ſecond Reaſon is taken from the precious fruits of the conſcionable exerciſe 2 From the Fruits of it. Its a meansof this duty; of ſuch ſudden and ſhort lifts of the heart to the Lord.
1. It is a very ſpecial means to keep our 1 To keep us Spiritual.hearts very Spiritual, and ſavoury, when ſo often in heaven, taking ſome ſhort turnes with God and Jeſus Chriſt. When ſo oft with God, diſtances will not ſo eaſily grow when converſing ſo with God, there is more of his brightneſs, more of his Image upon ſuch an ones face and heart. When gracious perſons are ever and anon making ſuch holy ſtands and pawſes of ſpirit (leſt being let go too long, and at too large a teather, they grow unſavoury) they are kept cloſer with God. Take two Profeſſors, the one careleſs in this, the other conſcionable in attending to it. Alas, what ſad ruſhes, bruiſes, and falls upon the very ſhadow of a temptation? if he get ſome kind of hold of a Promiſe. this ſword of the Spirit hangs looſe and dangling (as it were) like Amaſa's ſword, 2 Sam. 20. 8. yea, all the reſt of his Spiritual armor, is anſwerable; yea, but the other keepeth himſelf that the evil one toucheth him not; enters not into temptation: He hath Goſpel Promiſes made known, and made over to him to uſe at any time, he hath them by him, he keepeth a holy edg upon them, by which he cutteth aſunder many temptations: He hath his faith and hope in its ſtrength; his bow abides in his ſtrength, and his armes are not broken, Gen. 48. If temptations to unrighteous or guileful dealings begirt him, his heart cryeth out, God forbid, O Lord, how dare I ſo ſin againſt thee! If foiled at any time, he preſently cryeth, O Lord, ah my vile heart, Lord, Lord help: or if unexpected afflictions be ordered to him, he hereby tyeth his ſhooes of Peace ever and anon cloſer, Patience (Lord) do me good hereby; and ſo is not galled or grieved, as the other when meeting with ſuch ſtubby and hard wayes. Paul was much that way with God, learned contentment in all conditions; knew how to be full, and how to be hungry, to abound and to want, and to glory in infirmities.
2 It is a ſpecial means to fit us for more ſolemne and continued Prayer. They 2 To ſit us for ſolemn Praierare ever good Proficients in that holy Art of Pleading, they are ever and anon thus plodding upon it; their minds thus exerciſed in it upon all occaſions. Such as wil be ever and anon thus whetting their praying ſpirits and graces, will make work of it when they come to it. They that are good at theſe running pulls and trips, are ſurely good wreſtlers with God. It is no new or ſtrange work to ſuch to pray, that when they come to pray more ſolemnly they know not how to ſet about it; their hearts are not ſo out of kilter (as we ſay) as it is with idle Profeſſors: No, theſe that have been ſo oft in a day at work with God this way, have not their Tooles to ſeek, but at hand, and all in good plight, fit for uſe. Praying thoughts and deſires are in a holy readineſſe, they familiarize with them.
3. It is a meanes to meet oft with God. 3 To meet oft with God.If Abrahams ſervant be thus walking with God in his journey, God will be with him, he will meet him. No ſooner hath he done ſpeaking to God in his heart, but he diſcerneth that God is with him, and accordingly bleſſeth him, that being in the way he led him, &c. Gen. 24. 12, 27, 45, 47. God is oft with the Miniſter in his Study, who is thus praying oft in his heart for good ſpeed in his work; oft with the labouring man in the field, whilſt at his work, if thus employed ſpiritually.
Now let us make ſome brief Uſe hereof and cloſe this with ſome Cautions.
Let it humble us, that we are ſo careleſs and barren in lifting up ſuch Ejaculatory Ʋſe Praiers to the Lord upon every occaſion. Evils of the neglect hereof Strangeneſs to God.What ſtrangeneſs groweth oftentimes betwixt God and our ſouls, for want of theſe more tranſient and occaſional talkings with the Lord? How many precious things in private communion of Saints, and edifying Loſs of many holy advantages in the Ordinances.diſcourſes are loſt for want of ſome forelifts, and preſent lifting up of our hearts for the preſence of God therein, and bleſſing of God thereupon? How many precious words of grace ſpoken by God to us will warm and affect us at preſent hearing of them, yet are loſt in reſpect of the abiding light and life of them, for want of ſerious and thankful committing of them to the Lord by ſuch ſhort Ejaculatory Prayer, that he might keep them for us? Moſes did otherwiſe when God ſpake home to him, he haſteth to bow before him, and by a ſhort praier improveth that particular ſpoken, that God was one pardoning iniquity, Exod. 34 6, 7. Let my Lord pardon our iniquitie and our ſin, ver. 8, 9. He preſently retaileth and putteth to holy uſe that bleſſed treaſury of Grace delivered of God to him. But wee oftentimes, intending haply to tell God of it more ſolemnly, in the meane time loſe it, for want of preſent improving of it this way. Yea, many affecting providences, reſpecting In providence.our ſelves or others, which are unexpectedly ordered, loſe their kindly work upon us for want of a preſent lifting up of our hearts in ſome ſutable, though ſhort Ejaculations. How much of God in our particular Callings, In our particular Callings.how many quickning motions of the Spirit ſuggeſted to us therein, are in a manner loſt for want of maintaining hereby an holy diſcourſe with the Lord? yea, how many ſnares, in want hereof, doe wee meet with, and are intangled thereby, even in our lawful labors and recreations? In the night ſeaſon alſo, how much precious time In the night ſeaſon.and advantage of converſing thus with God, which is even caſt and forced upon us, for want of ſleep or the like, yet is all even loſt? Whilſt we are lifting and revolving our ſelves too and againe in our beds, and yet ſeldome or never lifting up our hearts thus unto the Lord? And ſurely, all theſe things, ſeriouſly conſidered, may juſtly humble us.
A ſecond Uſe ſerveth for Exhortation, Ʋſe to ſtir us all up to make more conſcience of Be wee ſtirred up to it.this Dutie of Ejaculatory Praier, thoſe groundleſs pretences againſt continued and ſolemn Prayer: Such as expence of too much time, let of other occaſions, &c. have No loſs of time hereby.here no place. Boaz his harveſt men may work hard, and yet lift up their hearts for a bleſſing upon Boaz, and the like, Ruth 2 4. Nehemiah amidſt his weighty imployments may be often at this holy work, Lord, remember me concerning this, &c. chap. 13. 13, 14, 21, 22. Iſaiah amidſt his Miniſterial exerciſes, may make ſuch holy Apoſtrophes, in way of appeal to the Lord, or the like, as Iſai. 53. 1. Lord, who hath believed our report? So may Ezekiel, chap. 20. 49. Ah, Lord God, they ſay, Doth he not ſpeak Parables? Many occaſions of it. As intricate paſſages and occurrents.Yea, do not they, as well as others in their way meet with ſuch intricacies, as by way of holy Apoſtrophes they muſt ſay, as Zachary to Chriſt, that Angel, What meane theſe? Zach. 7. 4. Do not they then, with Amos in his work, hear of, or behold more unwonted, unexpected judgments approaching, and had need make ſuch holy Apoſtrophes, Unwonted judgments.as Amos did on like occaſion? Amos 7. 1, 2, 4, 5. O Lord God Forgive, Ariſe we beſeech thee, by whom ſhall Jacob ariſe; for he is ſmall? or as the ſudden ſtroak of God upon Pelatiah, whilſt Ezekiel was prophecying, turneth his ſpeech to the Lord, Ah, Lord God, wilt thou make a ful end of the remnant of Iſrael! Ezek. 11. 13. Yea, will not variety of afflictions, ſome outward Variety of Afflictions.ſome inward, which once in every foure and twenty houres are wont to befall us, put us upon it to cry as ſometimes the Church did in hers, Behold O Lord, See and conſider: Lamentations 1. 9; 11, 20. As Jeſus Chriſt did in his, when inwardly loaded, as well as outwardly afflicted, Matthew 26. 47. My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? And whither alſo will our ſpirits wander betwixt our ſolemn praying in the morning, and that at evening, if we doe not now and then, each day trie whether our hearts be gone out of call after vaine objects? will they not elſe be too faſt wedged in worldly affairs, unleſſe now and then hereby looſened a little? But for the faſtning of this exhortation, and the right managing of the duty exhorted unto, let us lay down, 1. Some motives to it. 2. Some Motives.helps and means for it. 3. Some cautions about it. Touching the Motives, conſider,
1. That this precept and duty injoyned 1. Its well for the Saints, that God requireth and owneth this duty.of God, is a very precious priviledge to the Saints; they of all others may well be forward to this duty: in that it is well for them that ejaculatory prayer is acceptable prayer, a choice ſervice which the Lord himſelfe appointeth and delighteth in: it is well for us, brethren and ſiſters, that we may thus ſpeak and converſe with our God, when none either thinketh or knoweth of it; wee may ever and anon talke thus with our heavenly and gracious Soveraigne, and others in our very company, neither heare, nor mark it, As Nehemiah did in the kings preſence, he prayed to the Lord of heaven, and the king not privy to it, Nehemiah, 2. 4. As we walke in the way with others, wee may exchange a few of theſe holy ſpeeches, and yet keep our way and diſcourſe with them; little doe carnall perſons think how many of theſe holy lifts ſometimes gracious and ſpiritual perſons (occaſionally caſt into their company) have, whileſt they are with them. It is meat and drink which they know not of, communing with one that is inviſible. They may have ſweet anſwers and returnes alſo thereof, which fill their hearts with heavenly joy, wherewith a ſtranger doth not intermeddle. Yea, in their ſleep, the Saints may thus bee talking with God, 1 King. 3. 9. it was in a dreame when God ſaid unto Solomon, ask what I ſhall give thce, verſe 5. and he did ſo, verſe 15. and he awakened, and behold it was a dream; a ſign then, that hee was that while as in a ſleep, when praying, and yet ſo graciouſly accepted, and anſwered, ver. 10, 11. And alas, what elſe would have become of Gods Aſahs, and Jehoſhaphats, Davids, &c. of whom you heard, if this were not prevailing prayer? what ſhould deſolate Jonah in the whales belly, alſo doe? Jonah 2. 1. He prayed but in this ſort. What ſhall poor Jeremiah in the dungeon doe? but hereby you ſee hee doth well enough, Lam. 3. 55, 56. I called upon the name of the Lord out of the low dungeon, and thou heardeſt my voice, &c. Some freinds would ſometimes give a world to exchange a word or two with a choice freind of theirs in their extremity: If I could but ſend or ſpeak with ſuch a one will ſuch ſay, I need not, I ſhould not lye here thus. If my Father, if my Brother did but know of it, I am ſure they would relieve mee in my ſtraits: though I am now a Turks ſlave, yet I have ſuch and ſuch friends in ſuch a countrey which would ranſome mee, &c. Yea, but the Saints need not ſay ſo, the Saints are never ſo hard put to it, but if they want opportunity more ſolemnly, yet this way they may be telling their heavenly Father, and friend Jeſus Chriſt how it is with them. And is not this well for them? yea verily. Alas, what ſhould dumb ones doe, whoſe tongues the enemy cut out, or if not, gag them, if yet there were no means left of ſpeaking with their heavenly Father? but bleſſed be God there is this way left to ſuch. It may bee malicious perſecutors will be throwing the ſaints into a Jayle. amongſt a company of rogues, which will ſcoffe at the very mention of prayer; now welfare this part of Gods revealed wil, injoyning ejaculations for prayers alſo: the poore Saints may then poure out theſe prayers to their God, in which ſuch a helliſh crue cannot well interrupt them; they may hear them ſigh, it may be, or ſee them weep; but judge that as ariſing from other cauſes, which indeed and in truth is ſome ſigh of love, holy longing, admiration, or the like; a precious melting of faith in their hearts, amidſt theſe ſhort heart ſpeeches with the Lord. Sometimes the Saints are like Hezekiah, as well oppreſſed inwardly as outwardly, that they cannot in a continued way pray, but onelyonly in an abrupt and broken way, chatter, and that within themſelves, and at length get out, Lord I am oppreſſed, undertake for me: and they are like babes in Chriſt, and can but brokenly ſtammer out their mindes to the Lord, or like the Publicane, not daring in a manner to ſpeak much; but in ſhort, to beſpeak mercy as to chiefe of ſinners: is it then not well for ſuch, that O Lord bee mercifull to me a ſinner, is ſuch an acceptable prayer with God? yea verily, it is well for the Saints when to leave the world, when neither they can ſpeak to be underſtood of any friend, nor their friends to them, albeit both may deſire it with their mindes and ſpirits, and have audience and acceptance; and indeed if this were not ſo acceptable a duty, many a bleſſed ſoul ſylloqui with God of the Saints living and dying, were made null and uſeleſſe. And is it not well then for the Saints that ejaculatory prayer is acceptable prayer? yea, it is very well in theſe and other reſpects: and truly, though it be as I may ſay, ill for ſome notorious enemies of God, yet this is ſo: for the Saints can ſoon do their errand, and in a very few words too. As David did Achithophels, 2 Sam. 15. 31. It is well alſo for many a man who is yet in his ſinnes, or at leaſt under captivity to ſome diſtemper, that ejaculatory prayer of the Saints is of ſuch a nature; they at Taberah had been conſumed elſe, when once the fire of God was kindled amongſt them; if Moſes his ejaculatory cry had not been a prayer of the right ſtamp, and full weight, to paſſe for currant with the Lord, Numb. 11. 12. Moſes cryed to the Lord, and the fire was quenched; ſundry think Paul fared the better for Stevens ejaculatory praier at his death, Lord lay not this ſin to their charge. And aſſuredly many of the blinded Jews, who ignorantly crucifled the Lord of glory, fared the better for the ejaculatory prayer of Chriſt. Father forgive them, for they know not what they doe, Luk. 23. 34. Witneſſe the converſion of thouſands of thoſe, who had a hand in crucifying the Lord Jeſus, Acts 2. 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41. verſes compared. Other Saints likewiſe fare the better for this, that the ejaculatory prayers of others of their brethren for them, are acceptable prayers to God: Oneſiphorus will fare the better for the ſhort prayer of Paul, at the very day of judgment, 2 Tim. 1. 18. The Lord grant that he may find mercy at that day. How well then is it in all reſpects, that God will have his Saints praying continually with ejaculatory prayer alſo?
2. In that it is a ſervice which the Lord Second Motive, It is that upon which the ſpirit putteth us often.by ſpecial motion of his Spirit put his ſaints upon oft times, as well as by general command requireth the ſame: Let me hear thy voice, ſaith Chriſt to his people, Canti…. 2. 14. To which the Church anſwereth in an ejaculatory prayer, verſe 17. Turne, my beloved, and be thou like a Roe: So Cantic. 8. 13. The Lord putteth them upon ſpeaking to him, Let me hear thy voice: to which they returne an ejaculation, ver 14. Make haſte my beloved: now it will not bee ſafe to neglect any ſuch motions made by the Lord, and by his ſpirit, leſt being grieved, he withdraw from us.
3. In that the moſt ſpiritual perſons Third motive; it is that which the choyſeſt Saints practiſe muchhave been, and are thus exerciſed in thoſe holy ejaculations, as was Chriſt, as Luke 3. 21. When he was baptiſed, he ſo prayed: when thoſe Diſciples returned with that ſucceſſe, he lifts up his heart, Luk. 20. 21. I thanke thee O Father, Lord of heaven and earth. So John 2. 27, 28. Father, glorifie thy name. And ſo Luke 23. 31. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they doe. So Matthew 26. 46. My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? So Luke 23. 46. When to leave the world, Father, into thy hands I commit my ſpirit. Thus David, and Nehemiah, and Moſes, and others, who were moſt ſpiritual, how oft were they thus praying?
4. In that ejaculatory prayer hath prevailed Fourth Motive, its very prevailing with God.with God for great things; perſons have been healed of plagues. As upon ſuch a prayer of Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 30. 18, 19, 20. verſes, God hearkned, and healed the people. Wonders have been done by it; as when upon ſuch a Prayer of Iſaiah, the Sun goeth backward, 2 Kings 20. 11. Iſaiah cryed unto the Lord, and the Sun went back ten degrees. Such wonders were done hereby at the red Sea. Nehem. 9. 9. as formerly was ſhewed.
Now in the ſecond place conſider of ſome Helps to pray thus. 1 Heavenly mindedneſs.Helps to help us this way.
1 Get and maintain a ſpiritual frame of heart, walk much with God in Meditation, and the like; and frequent occaſion will be offered of ſuch like talking with him. A heavenly heart will be often lifted thus heavenward. When Sim…on was in ſuch a frame, then, Lord, letteſt thou thy Servant depart in peace, Luke 2. 29. So when John is in a like frame, then, Come Lord Jeſus, Come quickly, Revel. 22. 20. One Ejaculation or other ariſeth out of the heart in ſuch a frame; and as a branch thereof, get our hearts weaned from the things of the world; be as one leaving the world, and then an old Jacob will be mounting thus, Gen. 49. 18▪ Lord, I have waited for thy Salvation. David, who was a weaned child, was much in holy Ejaculations; ſo was Davids Lord, who was ſo much above the world; ſuch have moſt to do in Heaven, and therefore ſo oft moving that way.
2 Get a humble ſoft heart, ſenſible of ſins, and ſelf emptineſſe. Broken hearts will bee often breathing out Ejaculatory ſighs and requeſts; The humbled Thief upon the Croſs, and Publican in the Temple, had their Ejaculations.
3 Keep in life and light, as much as may 3 Senſe of Gods love.be, the ſenſe of the love of God in Chriſt: when the Church is in Chriſts armes, and as in his boſome, then ſhe hath her Ejaculatory requeſt, Set me as a ſeal upon thy arm, &c. Cant. 8. 5, 6. This ſtirreth up holy love in us to God, and that will be making ever and anon abrupt expreſſions of its deſire to him.
Touching the third thing, conſider of theſe Cautions.Cautions. 1. That it bee not too ſeldom
1 Content not our ſelves, that more rarely wee have ſome one lift this way, but be ever and anon ſending up ſome ſhort requeſts unto the Lord: foure times in one Chapter is Nehemiah doing thus upon ſeveral occaſions.
2 Look that we do it not in a Petitionary 2. That it bee not only in a Petitionary way.way only, but praiſing way as well. So David, Pſalm 8. 3, 4, 5. When I ſee thy Heavens, &c. I ſaid, What is man that thou art thus mindful of him! So Jeſus Chriſt, I thank thee Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that thou haſt hid theſe things from the wiſe and prudent, and revealed them to babes, Luke 10. 21. and John 11. 41, 42. Father, I thank thee, that thou alwayes heareſt me.
3 Look that be not a bare formal cry, 3. That it be not in an affected way.for faſhions ſake, a cuſtomary Lord have mercy upon me, or Lord bleſſe me, or the like, in a morning, or at going to bed, reſting therein, as if now ſome goodly ſervice were done, or that ſufficeth: or a more forced out-cry to God, occaſioned from ſudden terrors or diſtruſts, and the like; or an hypocritical ſemblance of a heart lift to heaven, by an affected lifting up the eys when in others company, or in a ſeemed ſqueezing out a hollow hearted ſigh, in ſtead of ſuch cordial Ejaculations, to which we have been all this while exhorting.
Laſtly, Look that none under this pretence, 4 That it thruſt not out Solemn praier.lay aſide the due and conſtant exerciſe of publick or private Praier in a more continued way. Let not one duty juſtle out another: Continued Praier in ſolemn manner is our duty, as well as Ejaculatory Prayer, as God willing we ſhall ſee in the following part of this Diſcourſe; we are the rather to make conſcience of Ejaculatory Praier, that we may be ſit for ſolemn Prayer: and we are ſo to pray in a continued Prayer, as it may leave us ſending up our after Ejaculations unto heaven.