Christian Directions, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Of Ejaculatory Prayers.
BEsides thy solemn Morning Prayer, it will bee good to send up Ejaculatory Prayers, and Praises unto God, and that frequently upon all occasions.
By Ejaculatory Prayers and Praises, I mean, The sudden lifting up of the heart unto God upon some present occasion, either in way of Petition, or Thanksgiving.
Which kinde of Prayers wee finde commanded under those general Precepts of praying alwaies, Luk. 18. 1.and praying without ceasing; 1 Thes. 5. 17.The meaning whereof is not that thou shouldest wholly and only attend on prayer, so as to neglect the word, and other duties of piety, or the ordinary works of thy calling: But that besides thine ordinary and set times of prayer, thou shouldest alwaies have a praying frame of spirit, bee ready upon all occasions to lift up thine heart unto God in some short Ejaculations.
For the more profitable pressing of this kinde of prayer, I shall
1 Give thee some Motives to quicken thee up to a frequent performance thereof.
2 Add some Cautio… ▪
The Motives may bee drawn to three heads.
1 The Excellency. 2 The Necessity. 3 The Utility of this kinde of Prayer.
I. The Excellency of Ejaculatory Prayer appeareth, In that at all times, and in all places, even in our converses with men, wee may thereby converse with God, and injoy an holy familiarity with him, and yet others in our company take no notice thereof. And when we are about the works of our Calling, we may without any hinderance thereof, lift up our hearts to God in some short Ejaculatory Prayer, for his assistance and blessing, which, though they are but as Parentheses in our worldly imployments, yet will prove very advantagious to us therein.
II. Another Motive may bee taken from the Necessity of these Ejaculatory Prayers, and that
1 In regard of the sudden dangers and plunges whereunto the people of God are many times brought, which will not afford time for continued prayer.
2 In regard of the manifold slips and infirmities of the people of God, which put them upon praying for the pardon and forgiveness of them.
3 In regard of the manifold mercies, blessings, and deliverances, which unexpectedly thou receivest from God, there is frequent occasion of Ejaculatory Prayers and thanksgivings unto him.
III. A third Motive may bee taken from the Utility of those Ejaculatory Prayers, which appeareth
1 From Gods gracious acceptation and remuneration of the same▪ whereof the Scripture giveth abundant instances and examples; As of Davids Ejaculatory Prayer against Achitophel, that God would turn his counsel into foolishness,1 Sam. 17. 14. was graciously accep…ed and granted in defeating the same. Nehem. 2. …6.The like wee read of Nehemiah's Ejaculatory Prayer unto God, to incline the heart of the King to grant his request, which was graciously heard and answered. So also the poor penitent Theef's Ejaculatory Prayer unto Christ, Lord remember mee when thou comest into thy Kingdome. Holy Ejaculations are the Spiritual breathings of a gracious heart, which as they are very pleasing unto God, so exceedingly advantagious unto Christians; for though they are very short and sudden, yet seldome do they return empty.
2 These Ejaculatory Prayers are a special means for the improving of every opportunity and occurrence of Providence to thy spiritual advantage.
Herein bee careful to observe these two Cautions.
1 Content not thy self with these Ejaculatory Prayers and Praises, as if they were sufficient at thy lying down, and rising up, and that thou needest not to trouble thy self with any longer prayers. Oh let not thy Ejaculatory Prayers justle out either thy closet or family prayers; but as God in his Word requireth the one as well as the other, do thou make conscience of every one of them in their time and place.
2 Beware of formal and prophane Ejaculations, which come from the lip, but not from the heart; as Good Lord, and Good God, or, The Lord bless mee, and Lord have mercy upon mee, with such like, which can bee no better than a taking of the name of God in vain, in that they are uttered customarily in a way of form, meerly from the teeth outward, for which, without true and unfeigned repentance, God will not hold thee guiltless.