Good Thoughts in Worse Times, Chapter 60 – Chapter 81
II. Family-Prayer.
LOng have I search't the Scriptures to find a positive precept enioyning, or precedent observing dayly Prayer in a Family, yet hitherto have found none proper for my purpose. Indeed I read, that there was a *1 Sam. 20.…9.yearely Sacrifice offered at Bethlehem for the Family of Iesse; but if hence we should inferre Household holy dutyes, others would conclude they should onelyonly be Annuall. And whereas it is said, poure out thine indignation on the heathen, and on the Families which have not called on thy name, the word taken there in a large acception reproveth rather the want of nationall, then domesticall service of God.
But let not propha… nesse improve it selfe, o… censure family-Prayer for will-w…rship, as wanting … warrant in Gods word. For where God injoyn…th a generall du y as to …erve and feare him, there …ll p…rticular meanes, (wh…reof Prayer a Principall) t…nding thereun…o are commanded. And …urely the Pious House…olds of *Gen. 18. 19.Abraham, *Josh. 24. 15.Io…hua, and *Acts 10. 2.Cornelius, had …ome holy Exercises to …hemselves, as broader …hen their personall devotion, so narrower then …he publique service, just adequate to their owne private family.
III. Selfe without Otherselfe.
SOme loving Wife may perchance be (though not angry with) grieved at her Husband, for excluding her from his Private Prayers, thus thinking with herselfe; Must I be discommoned from my Husbands Devotion? what? Severall Closset-Chappells, for those of the same Bed and Board? Are not our credits embarqud in the same Bottom, so that they swim or sinke together? May I not be admitted an Auditour at his Petitions, were it onelyonly to say AMEN thereunto?
But let such a one seriously consider what the *Zach 12 12.Prophet saith, The Family of the House of David apart, and their Wives apart; the Family of the House of Nathan apart, & their Wives apart. Personall private Faults must be privately confessed. It is not meet, shee should know all the Bosom sins of him, in whose Bosom she lieth. Perchance being now offended, for not hearing her Husbands Prayers she would be more offended, if shee heard them. Nor hath s…e just cause to complaine, seeing herein Nathans Wife, is equall with Nathan himselfe; what liberty she alloweth, is allowed her, and may as well as her Husband claime the priviledge privately and Apart to power forth her soule unto God in her daily devotions.
Yet man and wife, at other times ought to communicate in their prayers, all other excluded.
IV. Groanes.
HOw comes it to passe that Groanes made in men by Gods Spirit cannot bee uttered? I finde two Reasons thereof. First, because those Groans are so low, and little, so faint, fraile, and feeble, so next to nothing; these still-borne Babes only breath without crying.
Secondly, because so much diversity, yea contrariety of Passion, is crowded within the compasse of a Groane. In it is comprized sorrow for our sins, joy in Christ, fear of hell, hope of heaven, love of God, hatred of sinne. Now as when many men at the same time pressing out at a narrow Wicket, all stick, and stop each other, so no wonder if so many passions at the same time, striving to vent themselves at the na…row Outlet of a Groane, are stayed from being expressive, and the Groane become unutterable.
How happy is their condition, who have God for their Interpreter? who not onelyonly understands what they do, but what they would say. Daniel could tell the meaning of the Dreame, which Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten. GOD knowes the meaning of those Groanes which never as yet knew their owne meaning, and understands the Sense of those Sighes, which never understood themselves.
V. Ejaculations their use.
EIaculations are short Prayers, darted up to God on emergent occasions. If no other Artilery had been used this last seven yeares in England, I will not affirme more soules had been in heaven, but fewer corpes had been buried in Earth. O that with David we might have said my heart *Psal. 37.is fixed, being lesse busied about fixing of Muskets.
The principall use of Ejaculations, is against the fiery *Ephes. 6. 16.dartes of the I evill. Our Adversary inje…s, (how he doth it God k…owes, that hee doth it we know,) bad motions into our hearts, and that we may be as nimble with our Antidotes, as he with his poysons, such short prayers are proper and necessary. In bard H…vens (so choacked up with the envious sands that great Ships drawing many soote water can not come neare) lighter and lesser Pinnasses may freely and safely arive. When wee are time-bound, placebound, or person bound, so that wee cannot compose our selves to make a large solemn prayer, this is the right instant for Ejaculations, whether orally uttered, or onelyonly poured forth in wardly in the heart.
VI. Their Priviledge.
EIaculations take not up any roome in the Soule. They give liberty of callings, so that at the same instant one may follow his proper vocation. The husbandman may dart forth an Ejaculation and not make a balke the more. The Seaman never the lesse steere his ship right, in the dark'st night. Yea the Soldier at the same time, may shoot out his Prayer to God, and aime his Pistoll at his Enemy, the one better hitting the marke for the other.
The feild wherein Bees feed is no whit the barer for their biting, when they have tooke their full re past on flowers or grasse, the Ox may feed, the sheep fat on their reversions. The reason is because those little chymists destil onelyonly the refined part of the floure, leaving the grosser substance thereof. So Ejaculations bind not men to any bodily observance, onelyonly busie the spirituall half, which maketh them consistant with the prosecution of any other Imploiment.
VII. Extemporary Prayers.
IN Extemporary prayer what men most admire God least regardeth. Namely the volubility of the tongue. Herein a Tertullus may equal, yea exceed Saint. Paul himselfe whose *2 Cor. 10.10.speech was but meane. O, it is the heart, keeping time and tune with the voyce which God listneth unto. Otherwise the nimblest Tongue tires, and loudest voyce growes dumbe before it comes halfe way to heaven. Make it (said God to Moses) in all *Heb. 8.5.things, like the patterne in the mount. OnelyOnly the conformity of the wordes with the mind, mounted up in heavenly Thoughts is acceptable to God. The gift of extemporary Prayer, ready utterance may be bestowed on a Reprobate, but the grace thereof, [religious aflections] is onelyonly given to Gods Servants.
VIII. Their causelesse Scandall.
SOme lay it to the charge of Extemporary prayers, as if it were a diminution to Gods Majesty to offer them unto him, because (alluding to Davids expression to *2 Sam. 24. 24.Ornan the Jebufite,) they cost nothing, but come without any paines or industry to provide them. A most false aspersion.
Surely preparation of the heart, (though not premeditation of every word) is required thereunto. And grant the party praying at that very instant fore-studieth not every expression, yet surely he hath formerly laboured with his heart and tongue too, before he attained that dexterity of utterance, properly and readily to expresse himselfe. Many houres in night no doubt he is waking, and was by himselfe practising Scripture phrase, and the language of Canaan, wl ilst such as censure him, for his lazinesse, were fast a sleep in their …eds.
Supp… one should make an entertainment for strangers with flesh, fish, foule, Venison, fruit, all out of his owne fold, field, ponds, Parke, Orchard, will any say that this feast cost him nothing who made it? Surely although all grew on the same, and for the present he bought nothing by the penny, yet he or his Ancestors for him did at first dearely purchase these home-accommodations, when that this entertainment did arise.
So the party who hath attained the faculty and facility of extemporary Prayer, (the easie act of a laborious habit) though at the instant not appearing to take paines, hath bin formerly industrious with himselfe, or his parents with him (in giving him pious education) or else hee had never acquired so great perfection, seeing only long practice makes the Pen of a ready writer.
IX. Night-Prayer.
DEath in Scripture is compared to Sleepe. Well then may my night-Prayer be resembled to making my will. I will be carefull not to die intestate; as also not to deferre my will-making, till I am not Compos mentis till the Lethargie of drousinesse seize upon mee.
But being in perfect memory I bequeath my soule to God; the rather because I am sure the Divell will accuse mee when sleeping. O the advantage of spirits above bodyes! If our Clay-Cottage be not cooled with rest, the Roofe falls a fire. Satan hath no such need: the *Rev. 12. 10.Night is his fittest time. Thus mans Vacation is the Terme for the Beasts of the Forrest, they move most, whil'st he lies quiet in his bed.
Least therefore, whilst Sleeping I be out-lawed for want of appearance to Satan's charge; I committ my cause to him, who neither …mbers nor sleepes; ANSWER FOR ME O MY GOD.
X. A Nocturnall.
DAvid surveying the Firmament, brake forth into this consideration, When I considered the Heavens the worke of thy Fingers, the *Psal. 8.3.Moon & thestarres, which thou hast created; What is man &c.
How cometh he to mention the Moone and Starres, and omitt the Sunne. The other being but his Pensioners, shining with that exhibition of Light, which the bounty of the Sun alots them.
It is answered; this was Davids night meditation, when the Sunne departing to the other World, left the lesser lightes onelyonly Visible in Heaven, and as the Skie is best beheld by Day in the glory thereof, so it is best surveyed by Night, in the variety of the same.
Night was made for man to rest in. …ut when I cannot sleep, may I with this Psalmist entertaine my waking, with good Thoughts. Not to use them as Opium, to invite my corrupt nature to …, but to bolt out bad thoughts, which otherwise would possesse my soule.
XI. Set Prayers.
SEt Prayers are prescript Formes of our own, or others composing such are lawfull for any, and needfull for some to use.
Lawfull for any. Otherwise God would no… have appointed the Priests, (presumed o… themselves best able to pray) a forme of blessing the people. Nor would our Saviour have set u… his Prayers, which (as the Towne-Bushell is the Standard both to measure Corne, and other Bushels by,) is both a Prayer in it selfe, and a pattern or plat-forme of Prayer, such as accuse Set-formes to be pinioning the wings of the Dove, will by the next returne affirme that Girdles and Garters made to strengthen and adorne, are so many shackles and fetters, which hurt and hinder mens free motion.
Needfull for some. Namely for such who as yet have not attained (what all should endeavour) to pray extempore, by the Spirit. But as little children, (to whom the plainest and evenest Roome at first, is a Labarinth) are so ambitious of going, an-hye-lone, that they scorne to take the guidance of a Forme, or Bench to direct them, but will adventure by themselves, though often to the cost of a knock and a fall: So many confesse their weaknes in denying to confesse it, who refuseing to be beholden to a set-forme of Prayer, preferre to fay non-sence rather then nothing in their extempore Expressions. More modesty, and no le…e Piety it had been for such men, to have prayed longer with Setformes, that they might pray better without them.
XII. The same againe.
IT is no base and beggerly shift, (arguing a narrow and necessitous heart) but a peice of holy and heavenly Thrist often to use the same Prayer againe. Christs Practice is my Directory herein, who the third time said the same *Mat. 26. 44.words. A good Prayer is not like a Stratagem in Warre to to be used but once. No, the oftener, the better. The cloathes of the Israelites whilst they wandered fortie yeares in the Wildernesse, never waxed old as if made of Perpetuano indeed. So a good Prayer, though often used is still fresh and faire in the Eares and Eyes of Heaven.
Despaire not then thou simple Soule; who hast no exchange of Raiment, whose Prayers cannot appeare every day, at heavens Court, in new cloaths Thou maist be as good a Subject, though not so great a Gallant, coming alwayes in the same sute. Yea perchance the very same, which was thy Fathers and Grand-Fathers before thee, (a well composed Prayer is a good Heire-toome in a family, & may hereditarily bedescended to many Generations,) But know thy comfort, thy Prayer is well know to he…ven to it, which it is a co… stant customer. OnelyOnly adde new, or new degrees of old affections thereunto, and it will be acceptable to God, thus repaired, as if new erected.
XIII. Mixt-Prayers.
MIxt-Prayers are a methodicall composition, (no casuall confusion) of extempore and Premeditate Prayers put together. Wherein the Standers, still are the same, and the essentiall Parts, (confession of sin, begging of Pardon, craving grace for the future, thanking God for former Favours &c.) like the Bones of the Prayer remaine alwayes unaltered. Whilst the moveable petitions (like the flesh & Colour of thy Prayers) are added, abridged, or altered, as Gods Spirit adviseth and enableth us, according to the emergencies of present occasions.
In the Mid-land-Sea Galleys are found to be most usefull, which partly runne on the Legges of Oares, and partly flye with the Wings of Sailes, whereby they become serviceable both in a wind and in a calme. Such the conveniency of mixtprayer, wherein infused and acquired graces meet together, and men partly move with the brea th… of the holy Spirit, partly row on by their owne Industry. Such medley prayers are most usefull, as having the stedinesse of premeditate, and the activity of extemporary prayer, joyned together.
XIIII. Take your company along.
IT is no disgrace for such who have the guift and grace of Extemporary prayer, sometimes to use a set-forme, for the benefit and behoof of others. Iaacob though he could have marched on a man's pace, yet was carefull not to over-drive the children, and Eewes *Gen.big with young. Let Ministers remember to bring up the R…re in their Congregations, that the meanest may goe along with them in their Devotions.
God could have created the World ex tempore, in a moment, but was pleased (as I may say',) to make it premediatly in a set-method of six dayes, Not for his own, Ease, but our Instruction, that our Heads and Hearts might the better keep pace with his Hands, to behold and consider his Workmanship.
Let no man disdaine to set his owne nimblenesse backward that others may goe along with him. Such degrading ones-selfe is the quickest proceeding in Piety, when men preferre the edification of others before their owne credit and esteeme.
XV. Prayer must be Quotidian.
AMongst other Arguments inforceing the necessity of Daily-Prayer, this not the least that Christ injoynes us to petition for dayly Bread. New-Bread we know is best, and in a spirituall sense, our Bread, (though in it selfe as stale and moldie as that of the Gibeonites) is every day new, because a new and hot blessing (as I might say) is dayly beg'd, and bestowed of God upon it.
Manna must dayly be gathered, & not provisionally be hoorded up, God expects that men every day addresse themselves unto him, by petitioning him for sustenance.
How contrary is this to the Common-practice of many. As Camells in Sandy-Countries are said to drink but once in seven dayes, and then in praesens, praeteritum, & futurum, for time past, present, and to come, so many, fumble this, last, … next Weekes devotion all in a prayer. Yea some deferre all their praying till the last day.
Constantine had a conceite that because Baptisme wash't away all sinns, he would not be baptized till his Death-bed, that so his soule might never loose the purity thereof, but immediately mount to Heaven. But sudden Death preventing him, he was not baptized at all, as some say, or onelyonly by an Arrian Bishop as others a…irme. If any erroniously on the same supposition put off their Prayers to the last, let them take heed, least long delayed, at last they prove either none at all or none in effect.
XVI. The Lords Prayer.
IN this age wee begin to think meanely of the Lords Prayer, Oh how basely may the Lord think of our Prayers. Some will not forgive the Lords prayer for that passage therein, as we forgive them that trespasse against us.
Others play the witches on this prayer. Witches are reported (amongst many, other hellish Observations, whereby they oblige themselves to Satan) to say the Lords prayer backwards. Are there not many, who though they doe not pronounce the syllables of the Lords prayer retrograde (their discretion will not suffer them to be betraied, to such a nonsence sin,) yet they transpose it in effect, desiring their Dayly-Bread, before Gods Kingdom come, preferring temporall benefits before heavenly blessings. Oh; if every one by this marke should be tryed for a Witch, how hard would it goe with all of us. Lamiarum plena sunt omnia.
XVII. All Best.
AT the siedge and takeing of New-Carthage in Spaine there was dis…ention betwixt the Souldiers, about the Crown Murall due to him, who first footed the Walles of the City, Two pretended to the Crown. Parts were taken, and the Roman Army siding in factions, was likely to fall foule, and mutually fight against it selfe. Scipio the Generall prevented the danger by providing two Murall *Pluta…k in Scipo's life. pag. 1807.Crownes, giving one to each who claimed it, affirming that on the examination of the prooffes, both did appeare to him at the same instant to climb the wall. O let us not set severall kinds of Prayers at varience betwixt themselves, which of them should be most usefull, most honourable. All are most excellent at several times, Crown Gro…nes, Crown Ejaculations, crown Extemporary, crown Sett, crown Mixt prayer, I dare boldly say, he that in some measure loves not all kind of lawfull Prayers, loves no kind of lawfull Prayers. For if we love God the Father, we can hate no Ordinance, his child though perchance an occasion may affect one above another.
XVIII. All manner of Prayer.
IT is an antient Stratagem of Satan, (yet still he useth it, still men are cheated by it,) to set Gods Ordinance at Variance, (as the Desciples fell out amongst themselves) which of them should be the greatest. How hath the Readers Pue been clash't against the Preachers Pulpit, to the shaking almost of the whole Church, whether that the Word Preached or read be most effectuall to Salvation. Also whether the Word pre…ch'd or catechiz'd, most usefull. But no Ordinance so abused as Prayer. Prayer hath been set up against Preaching, against Catech…zing, against it selfe. Whether publick or private, Church or Closet, Set or Extempore Prayer the best. See how St. Paul determines the controversie *Eph. 6. 18.foreign with all manner of Prayer, (so the Geneva Translation) and supplication in the Spirit. Preferring none, commending all lawfull Prayer to our practise.
XX. To God alone.
AMongst all manner of prayer to God, I find in Scripture neither promise, precept, nor Precedent to warrant Prayers to Saints. And were there no other reason, this would incourage me to pray to Christ alone because.
St. Paul struck Elimas blind, Christ made blind Bartemeus See. St. Peter kill'd Ananias and Saphira with his Word, Christ with his Word revived dead Lazarus. The Disciples forbad the Synophaenician woman, to call after Christ, Christ called unto her after they had forbidden her. All my Saviours Workes are saveing workes, none extending to the death of mankind.
Surely Christ being now in Heaven, hath not lesse goodnesse because he hath more glory, his Bowels still earn on us. I will therefore rather present my Prayers to him, who alwayes did heale, then to those who sometimes did hurt. And though this be no convinceing Argument to Papists, 'tis a comfortable Motive to Protestants. A good Third, where so good Firsts and Seconds have been lay'd before.
OCCASIONAL MEDITATIONS.
I. Love & Anger.
I saw two chil dren fighting together in the street. The Father of the one passing by, f…rch't his sonne away and corrected him; the other lad was left without any check, though both were equally faulty in the Fray. I was halfe offended that, being guilty alike, they were not punished alike: But the Parent would only meddle with him over whom he had an undoubted Dominion, to whom he bare an unfayned affection.
The wicked sinne, the Godly smart most in this world. God singleth out his owne sonnes, and beateth them by themselves: Whom hee loveth he *Heb. 12. 6.Chasteneth. Whilest the ungodly; preserved from affliction, are reserved for destruction. It being needlesse that their haire should bee shaved with an hired *Isa. 7. 20.Rasor whose Heads are intended for the *Mat. 3. 10.Axe of divine Justice.
II. Upwards, Upwards.
HOW large Houses doe they build in London on little Ground? Revenging themselves on the Narrownesse of their Roome with store of Stories. Excellent Arithm tick! from the Roote of one Floore, to multiplie so many Chambers. And though painfull the climbing up, pleasant the staying there, the higher the Healthfuller, with clearer Light and sweeter Aire.
Small are my Meanes on Earth. May I mount my Soule the higher in Heavenly Meditations, relying on divine providence; (he that fed many thonsands with *Mat. 14. 5.five Loaves, may feed me and Mine with the FIFTH PART of that one Loafe, that once was all mine. Higher my Soule! higher! In bodily Bnilbings, commonly the Garrets are most emptie, but my minde the higher mounted, will bee the better furnished. Let …severance to Death bee my uppermost Chamber, the Roof of which Grace is the Pavement of Glory.
III. Bew…re wanton wit.
I saw an Indentu e too fairely engrossed; for the writer (beter Scrivener then Clearke) had so filled it with flourishes that it hindred my reading thereof, the wantonnesse of his Pen made a new Alphabet, and I was subject to mistake his D…shes for reall Letters.
What dammage hath unwarie Rhetorick done to Religion? Many an innocent Reader hath taken Damas…en & Theophilact at their word, counting their eloquent Hyperboles of Christs pres…nce in the Sacrament, the exact Standards of their judgement, whence after ages brought in T…ansubstantiation. Yea from the Fa…hers elegant Apostraphe'es to the D…ad (lively Pictures by hasty Eyes may be taken for living Persons) Prayers to Saints tooke their Originall. I see that truths Secretary must use a set Hand, in wrighting important points of Divinity. Ill dancing for nimlle Wits, on the Precipisses of dangerous Doctrines. For though they cscape by their agility, others (encouraged by their examples) may bee brought to destr…ction.
IV. Ill. done Un done.
I Saw one…, whether …ut of haste, or want … skill, put up his Sword the wrong way; It cut even when it was sheathed, the edge being transposed where the back should have been: So that, perceiving his errour, he was feigne to draw it out, that hee might put it up againe.
Wearied and wasted w…th civill Warre, Wee that formerly loathed the Mann… of Peace (because Common) could now be content to feede on it, though full of Wormes and putrified: Some so desirous thereof that they care not on what Termes the Warre be ended, so it bee ended: But such a Peace would bee but a Truce, and the conditions thereof would no longer bee in force, then whilest They are in Force. Let us pray that the Sword be sheathed …he right way, with Gods glory; and without the dangerous dslocation of Prince and Pe… ples Right: otherwise it may justly be suspected, that the Sword put up, will be drawn out again, And the Articles of an i…l Agreement, though engrossed in Parchment, not take effect, so long as Paper would continue.