The Spiritual Mans Directory, Treatise · Part 2 · Question 185 – Question 187
Q. 185. Are there no more evils that wee have need to be delivered from?
A. Yes, the whole world is ſull of evils, Ioh. 17. 15. we can walke in no way but there be many evils attending upon it to defile us, and happie is he that is undefiled with them, Pſal. 119. 1. We can not tread one ſtep, but there be evils ready to have dominion over us, except the Lord deliver us, there-from, verſe. 133. Firſt, in our outward Callings, as we are in danger in being overmuch, or not enough in them, of ſavouring them too much; ſo that we cannot ſavour the Word, the Sacraments, and Sabboths, for fleſhly feare and diſtruſt, graſping too many things, Improvidence, hampering our ſelves with the wicked; ſo that happie is hee whoſe God is the Lord, for hee is faithfull to keepe one from the evill, 2 Theſſ. 3. 3. Secondly, in Proſperity, wee are apt to thinke we ſhall dye in our neſt, Iob 29, 18. hoping it will not end yet nor yet, we are apt to be vaine and delicare, and tender, and unhardy, to forget the afflictions of Ioſeph, to be ſelfe-confident, to prize heaven the leſſe, to be the un…i…ter for humiliation and the other irkſome duties of Mortification; ſuch evils wiſe Ag… ſaw in being full, Prov. 30. 9. Thirdly, in …ity to be impatient, diſcontented, to be moping, to uſe unlawfull means, to be Pu…illanimous and baſe, to be dead to good things; David himſelfe in his affliction found a want of quickning, Pſal. 119. 107. Fourthly, in our eating and drinking, as the Iſraelites minds ranne upon their Onyo…s and Garlick, and fleſhpots their ſoule loathed the Manna; when wee drinke we are ready to be caught with the redneſſe of the Wine, when we eate as Eſau with the redneſſe of the Pottage, at Feaſts we are ſubject to forget feare, we are in danger of Intem. perance, curioſity, pleaſure; and therefore bleſſed is hee that hath Faith in Gods word to Pray that his meat may be ſanctified, 1 Tim. 4. 5. Fiftly, in our delights and recreations, to be too …eſting, and light, and tickeled, immoderate, unſeaſonable, over long, to be un…itted thereby to graver and ſeriouſer things, which are great evils; for they doe exceedingly dead us towards Chriſt, 1 Tim. 5. 6. Sixtly, in our company to be infected ſome way or other, and carried away, Gal. 2. 13. Seventhly, when wee are alone, Eccl. 4. 10. though the more Grace we have, the leſſe we are alone, when wee are alone, Ioh. 16. 32. Eighthly, when we are about godly duties, there … evills about us too, and therefore we had need …o take heed, Luk. 8. 18.
Q. 186. It appeares then God is the only de…erer?
A. Yea, Pſal. 70. 5. for firſt, he is ſtrong e…ough, Kings and Princes are not able to be deliverers, 2 King. 6. 27. he only is our rock; and therefore our only deliverer, 2 Sam. 22. 2. Secondly, in him only we may truſt for deliverance; Pſal. 144. 2. and therefore, Firſt, we ſhould …ly onelyonly to him for deliverance, Pſal. 50. 15. Secondly, this condemnes them that …ly to any other for deliverance, it is a heavy curſe when a man is given up to ſuch a reprobate ſenſe, as to goe any where elſe, Iudg. 10. 14. Thirdly, if we be delivesed at any time, let us take notice that our deliverance commeth from him; and let him have a ſong of Praiſe, Pſal. 32. 7. Fourthly, let us labour to be ſuch, as he may be willing to deliver, as Firſt, let us ſee our ſelves utterly undone without him 2 Chron. 20. 12. Secondly, let us climb up to mount Sion; deliverance dwells there, Ioel. 1. 32. Thirdly, let us ſet our ſelves to be holy. …ad. 17. Fourthly, let us be importunate with God not to tarry long before he deliver, Pſal. 40. 17. and yet Fiftly, wait too, till he is pleaſed to deliver, Lam. 3. 26. Sixthly, let us looke to the Holy one. Iſa. 31. 1. Seventhly, if any deliverance be offered any other way; let us not except it. Heb. 11. 35. the Lord doth deliver. Firſt, by keeping away the evill, Iob. 33. 17. Secondly, by removing it a way when it is come, Pſal. 51. 14. Thirdly, by diſanulling the force of the evill. Dan. 3. 27. or the hurtfulneſſe of it, Mark. 16. 18. Fourthly, by altering of the nature of it, and turning it to good, Gen. 15. 20. Fiftly, by taking one away from the evill, 2 King. 22. 20. which few men doe conſider, Iſa. 57. 1. and therefore, firſt, God hath more wayes to deliver his people then one Deliverances, Pſal. 44. 4. Secondly, though never ſo many waies of Deliverance be blockt up yet let Faith ſay, God hath another way yet, Eſter 4. 14. for God is skilfull and well verſt in delivering his, 2 Pet. 2. 9. Thirdly, let our faith be indifferent; may be God will be with us in trouble and that is a deliverance, Pſal. 9. 15. may be God will keepe us in it, and that is a deliverence, Pſal. 25. 20. may be hee will keepe us from ſinking, and that's a deliverance too, Pſal. 69. 14.
Q. 187. What doe you learne from theſe words; For thine is the Kingdome, the Power, and the glory?
A. That Prayer is to be preſſed with arguments, as Moſes his Prayer was, Exod. 32. 11, 12, 13. ſo was Aſa's, 2 Chron. 14. 11. Firſt, becauſe God is a God of infinite underſtanding, and therfore when we ſpeake unto him, wee had need to ſpeake reaſon, Iob 13. 3. Secondly, becauſe Prayer is a pleading, which muſt be full of good reaſons, Iob 23. 4. Thirdly, becauſe Prayer is a main part of Gods ſervice, which is reaſonable, Rom. 12. 1. for even a mortall man ſtands much upon reaſon, Iob 32. 11. much leſſe hath the wiſe God delight in fooles. Eccl. 5. 4. Therefore firſt, wee ſhould well ponder our Prayers, before wee doe pray them. David calls his Prayers his meditations, Pſal. 5. 1. wee muſt ponder upon what ground we come to God, otherwiſe hee will ſend us away without hearing, Iudg. 10. 14. we muſt ponder what correſpondency we have with him is otherwiſe he will indite us of impudence, for ou… comming into his Courts, Ier. 11. 15. when wee Pray to him rightly, God ſayes, Come let us reaſon together, Iſa. 1. 18. Secondly, hence we ſee that wicked men, be they never ſo learned, and gifted in Prayer, yet they cannot Pray, for lacke of Spirituall reaſon, they are unreaſonable men, 2 Theſ. 3. 2. This is a comfort to good Chriſtians, that have the Lords attributes all on their ſide, for God will be ſure to heare ſuch, Ioh. 9. 31. hence it is that they doe not faint in Prayer, as others doe; becauſe their reaſons are never exhauſt, they have ſtill more and more reaſon, Luk. 18. 1. 7. Jacob had ſuch reaſons that he would not let the Lord goe, Gen. 32. 26. The Prophet Iſaiahs his mouth could never be ſtopt, he had ſtill more and more to ſay, and preſſe the Lord with, Iſa. 62. 1… and therefore, firſt, when we have a good argument, we ſhould lie a tugging with it, and follow it hard, as Ioſhua did, Ioſh. 7. 6. 9. Secondly, when our arguments ſeeme to be anſwered, we ſhould recover them againe, Math. 15. 22, 23, 24.
FJNJS.
End of the text · William Fenner, The Spiritual Mans Directory (1648)