The Nature Parts and Kinds of Prayer, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of the Kinds of Prayer.
Sect. 1. Of Mental Prayer.
HAving ſhewn what prayer is,Tot ſunt precationum genera, quot ſunt pii, animorum noſtrorum motus. Caſſian. Collat. 9. c. 8. Exod. 14.15. 1 Sam. 1.10, 13, 15. I ſhall now treat of the kinds of prayer, which are
Mental.
Vocal.
1. Mental: ſo Moſes prayed, when he ſpake not a word, Exod. 14.15. and Hannah ſpake in her heart, when her lips moved not, and her voice wa… not heard: yet the Lord heard ho… petition, though ſhe prayed with he… heart alone, and her tongue ſtirred not. This kind of prayer is called A lifting up of the ſoul to God, Pſa… 25.1. Ʋnto thee O Lord, do I lift … my ſoul, that is, unto thee do I pray The work of prayer is not ſo muc… to lift up the eyes to Heaven, to li… up the hand, and to lift up the voice as to lift up the heart, and the deſire of the heart to God. Prayer likewiſ… is called, The pouring forth of the hea… before the Lord, Pſal. 62.8. They a… not our words, but our deſires, ſait… Gregory, Gregor. in Job l. 22. c. 18.that yeeld a moſt forcible ſoun… in the moſt ſecret ears of God, for if w… ask eternal life only with the mouth, a… deſire it not in heart, Clamantes tacemus, for all our crying we are inde… but indeed but dumb: but if we deſi… it from the heart, though we speak neve… a word, Tacentes clamamus, thoug… we hold our peace, yet do we cry. St Auguſtine Auguſt. in Pſal. 148. Homil. 16.ſaith, As our ears are to on… words, ſo are Gods ears to our thoughts God who is a Spirit, ſeeth, heareth and knoweth as well the thoughts o… our hearts, as the words of our mouths, Pſalm 38.9. Lord all my deſire is before thee, ſaith the Prophet. Though Zechary be dumb and cannot ſpeak a word, yet the Angel tells him, His prayer is heard, Luke 1.13. An afflicted ſoul may pray to God in the midſt of a company, and though no man hear him, yet God who knoweth his heart, may hear his prayer. Such are the deſires of Gods children many times, as they are notable to expreſſe in words; 2 Sam. 7.20. Sometimes words flow in abundantly in prayer; but the deſires and breathings of their hearts do far exceed their expreſſions; ſometimes their prayers are interrupted, full of intermiſſions and broken ſentences, but they are perfected by theſe pantings and gaſpings of the ſoul begotten in them by the ſpirit of Chriſt. Sometimes words fall ſhort,Hoc negotium ſaepenumerò plus agitur gemitibus, quàm ſermonibus, & plus fleru quàm affatu. Aug. and quite fail them, being as it were raviſht in ſpirit by a kind of divine extacy, and then ſighs and groans make a double ſupply of what is externally wanting, they being loud cries in the ears of God, Pſal. 145.19. duplicate page duplicate page Therefore the Lord is ſaid to hea… not onelyonly the requeſts, but alſo th… deſires of the humble, Pſalm 10.17 Yea God heareth the ſighing of hi… people. As often as I ſee thee ſighing in the ſight of God, ſaith C… prian, I doubt not but in tho… ſighs of thine the holy Spirit dot… breathe; when I ſee thee weepin… me thinks he is then forgiving.
Quoties te in conſpectu Domini video ſuſpirantem, Spiritum ſanctum nòn dubito aſpirantem: cum intueor fleatem, ſentio ignoſcentem. Cypr. de coena Domini.The Saints are aſſiſted to pra… with unutterable groans, Rom. 8.2 ſo called, becauſe they cannot … expreſſed by words or geſture:
1. Not by the Saints themſelve… whoſe outward expreſſions come f… ſhort of their inward affection prayer.
2. Not by hypocrites, who may fu… counterfeit their voice, words and g… ſture, but can never expreſſe the i… ward affections of their hearts, wit… out the aſſiſtance of the ſame Spirit God.David praiſed God upon an inſtrument of ten ſtrings; and he would never have told how many ſtrings there were, but that he made uſe of them all: God hath given all of us bodies, as it were inſtruments of many ſtrings, and can we think it muſick good enough to ſtrike but one ſtring, to call upon him with our tongues onelyonly? No, when the ſtill ſound of the heart by holy thoughts, and the ſhrill ſound of the tongue by holy words, and the loud ſound of the hands by holy works, do all joyn together; that is Gods conſort, and the only muſick wherewith he is affected. Sr Rio. Baker Diſquiſ. in Pſal. 51. A ſtrange child may uſe t… ſame words to the parent with t… true child, but cannot conceive, mu… leſſe ſpeak with the ſame affectio… Thoſe that have felt the pangs of t… new birth, ſhall find themſelves ſo… times at a ſtand, and that all ſpeech will …e ſtopt, and words ſwallowed up, ſo …hat they cannot expreſſe their holy …aſſions, affections, raptur… …a…iſhments and meditations. This …as I may ſo ſpeak) is a kind of Angelical ſervice. Angels have no ſpeech, yet have they their ſeraphical Hallelujah's, and ſo theſe (I may ſay) are prayers of prayers, the very extract, quinteſſence and life of prayer. When our tongues faulter, when our ſentences are abrupt, when we pour forth our ſoul to God, not by ſpeech, but by tears, deſires, ſighs, ſobs and groans; theſe are of the ſpirits more immediate enditing, and therefore the more pure, the nearer the fountain, and God is the more acquainted with them, and better accepteth of them. When the child cannot ſpeak (it may be) for ſome extream pain and ſickneſſe, and great weakneſſe, but looketh on the parent, ſigheth, groaneth, weepeth, and caſteth up the eye and onelyonly breatheth: Oh, how compaſſionate is the parent, how do his bowels yearn within him? So it is in this caſe between our heavenly Fath… and us: Thou haſt heard my voice, hi… not thine ear at my breathing, at my c… Lam. 3.56. Babes have no langua… for the breſt, but only cries and tea… and this language the mother c… underſtand: yea looking up go… for prayer: My prayer will I direct… thee, and will look up, Pſal. 5.3. M… eyes fail with looking upwards, Pſal 69.3. The affections of the ſoul li… ſmoak break out at the window when the dores are ſhut. Tears ha… a tongue and language that our he… venly Father doth underſtand: T… Lord hath heard the voice of my we… ing, Pſalm 6.8. I heard Ephraim … moaning himſelf, Jer 31.18, 20. G… heareth the voice of our tears, as weeping conſiſted of words and ſetences.Sufficit auribus imber oculolorum ſletus citiùs audit quàm voces. Aug. de temp. ſerm. 226. Ambroſ. tom. 3. ſerm. 46. Auſtin ſaith, He ſoon heareth our teares than our wor… Tears, ſaith Ambroſe, are as were a ſpeechleſſe praying, the crave not pardon, yet they obtai… it, they open not their caſe, y… they find mercy. The prayers … tears are much more profitable tha… the prayers of words. Words in …rayer may deceive, tears cannot: Words many times do their errands …y halves, tears make demonſtrati…n of the whole affection.
Sect. 2. Of vocal Prayer.
PRayer is alſo vocal as well as mental, outward as well as inward; though the heart be the prin…ipal, yet it is not the ſole agent in prayer: All prayer is not included …n conceived prayer. God will have …he honor of our tongues, as well as of …ur hearts, and the calves of our lips …o be offered up unto him; he hath given us a body as well as a ſoul, and …ooketh to be glorified with both. A man may pray with his heart, but muſt not confine it to the heart alone: Therefore the Lord ſaith to the Church, Hoſ. 14.2. Take to you words, and ſay, take away all iniquity, and receive us graciouſly. Words are neceſſary in prayer,
1. That others may joyn with us in prayer, for as it is a duty for the Saints to pray one for another, ſo it is of great uſe to pray one with another: Now unleſſe we uſe word… others cannot joyn with us in praye… God requireth that a family ſhoul… pray together, this bringeth a ble… ſing upon the whole houſe: the ſam… is neceſſary alſo in regard of public… Aſſemblies, where Miniſter an… people are to pray together, ther… muſt be a diſtinct and audib… voice, that they which joyn wit… us may underſtand it, and be edifie… thereby.
2. To compleat our own prayer when the heart and tongue go tog… ther in prayer, this is a compleat o… lation.Dr Holdſworth Serm. in Hoſ. 14.2. When the dart of prayer … pointed with zeal, and feathere… with holy expreſſions, it flies hom… and hits the mark, as a learned ma… well noteth.
3. It is neceſſary to uſe words i… prayer,Voce interdum nos ipſos ad devotionem acriùs excitamus. Aug. Epiſt. 122, ad Prov. cap. 9. Utilis quoque eſt quoniam fervit devotioni ja excitatae, quae erumpere ſolet, & redundare in extremum a ſectum. Moller. in Pſal. 54. to enflame our devotio… and quicken our affections. Pray… is compared to incenſe, therefor when the fire is upon the altar of th… heart, it muſt be blown up into flame by the billows of holy expreſſions: No man can long abide in mental and ejaculatory prayer; if words be wanting, it is a hard matter to keep up the affections in their due bounds, and the heart from running out in many excurſions.
4. Words are not neceſſary in regard of God, to enform him what we want, who knoweth all our wants, and underſtandeth our thoughts afarre off; or to inſtruct him, as if he were ignorant of any thing; but in regard of our ſelves to teſtifie our obedience to his Commandments; who hath commanded us in all our neceſſities to call upon him, and likewiſe to teſtifie our faith in the promiſes of God.
5. Though there be no need at all of voice, when we make our private prayers to God, in regard that God heareth and beholdeth our hearts and minds; yet ſometimes (ſaith Peter Martyr Pet. Martyr. in 1 Sam. 1.12.) it may be uſed to very good purpoſe; becauſe it may fall out, that we may languiſh in our prayers, and our minds ma… be wearied, which the voice aga… will refreſh, and give thereunto new vigour. Therefore ſaith D… vid, I cried unto the Lord with … voice, and he heard me out of his h… hill, Pſalm 3.4. By our tongues prayer we tell God how it is with u… Lord, how are my troubles encreaſed Thus and thus it is with me. S… Jeremy Chap. 20. 12. To thee I ha… opened my cauſe. And David, Pſal 119.26. I have declared my wayes un… thee. And though the words tha… we utter in prayer are but few, ye… if they flow from a ſincere affectio… it may be ſaid of them,Quàm multa quàm paucis. Tul. Epiſt. Fam. l. 11. Epiſt. 24. Aug. Epiſt. 121. c. 10. as Tully i… another caſe; How much is there i… how few words? The brethren i… Aegypt, ſaith St Auſtin, are reported to have many prayers; Se… eas tamen breviſſimas, & raptim quo… dammodò jaculatus: but all of them very ſhort, as if their words were ſo many darts thrown out with a kind of a ſuddain quickneſſe. Give ear to my words, O Lord, ſaith David, Pſal. 5.1. Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in thy ſight, &c. Pſ. 19. ult. …hus Abraham ſpeaks and pleads …ith God in the behalf of Sodom, …en. 18. Is it fit that duſt and aſhes …ould thus ſpeak to God, as David did, …ive ear to my w rds, ponder and conſi…er my words? Say but to thy fellow-…reature, if once he be above thee in …uthority: Sir, conſider my ſuit, …onder well what I have ſpoken, …eigh it well before you judge; and …ill he not preſently take it in ſnuff, …nd think you have done him wrong, as if you called his wits in …ueſtion: but ſuch is the love and …oodneſſe of our great Creator, that …e diſdaineth not to be called upon …n thoſe termes; ponder and conſi…er well my words, that Magiſtrates may learn (in like ſort) to give …oor ſuitors leave, if ſometimes tran…ported and carried away with the …agerneſſe of their affections, they …hance to forget themſelves. Memorable is that Story of a poor woman, who having a ſuit to Philip King of Macedon, hearing him ſay, …hat he was not at leiſure to hear her, …nſwered him; Noli ergo regnare; Plutarch. Apopth.…hen give over reigning, ſaid ſhe; which bold anſwer of her the Ki… admiring, and taking in good par… gave her preſent audience, ar… not to her onelyonly, but to othe… alſo.
Quid prodeſt ſtrepitus verborum, ubi cor eſt mutum? ſicut enim vox ſine modulatione eſt quaſi gemitus porcorum. Sic oratio ſine devotione eſt quaſi mugitus Boum. Iſidor. Oratio cordis eſt nòn labiorum, neque enim verba deprecantis Deus intendit, ſed orantis cor aſpicit, & melius eſt cum ſilentio orare in corde, ſine ſono vocis, quam ſolis verbis ſine intuitu mentis Iſidor. Macrob. Comment. in Somn. Scipion.Now it is not enough to uſe wor… in our prayers, unleſſe hearty aff… ction go with our words; for o… may pray and not ſpeak, and an… ther ſpeak and not pray; this ma… voice (though never ſo loud) is n… heard, becauſe his praying is all voice, nothing in vertue; in outwa… ſound, not in inward ſenſe: T… former is heard, yet ſpeaks no… for though his mouth be ſhut, y… his heart is open, and his heart ta… eth with God, though his tongue … tied up before men. A ſincere Ch… ſtian, though he make uſe of … tongue in prayer, yet is he carefu… that his prayers go not out of feign… lips, Pſalm 17.1. and that when … draws near to God, and honoure… him with his lips, his heart be n… far from him, Iſa. 29.13. The ſp… rit of prayer, as one well note… ſets up the heart to its due height, and then windeth up the words accordingly to it, and ſo maketh a compleat Diapaſon, or harmony of the whole, to yeeld a gratefull ſound in the ears of God.