The Day and the Work of the Day, Case
CASE. What is the END of PRAYER?
We know, It is not for the Information of Almighty God, that we Spread our Ails before Him; nor do we plead with Him, to move in Him, any Affections or Compassions like those which are in our selves▪ But then,
One End of Prayer, is, That we may Reverently Realize the Attributes of that God, who is greatly to be had in Reverence by those that come about Him. 'Tis a Veneration of God, as well as a Petition to God. Our God whose Throne is in the Highest Heavens, would be Enthroned in the High Thoughts of our Souls; now 'tis by Prayer that we are put upon the Forming of such God-Adoring Thoughts. It was said, of a very praying man, in Heb. 11.27. He saw Him, who is Invisible. In Prayer 'tis, that we, Lift up our Eyes, and so we have a more Distinct Sight of the Unseen God, in the serious and suitable Thoughts of Him, so Raised in our minds.
Again, Another End of Prayer, is, That we may reduce into Christian Practice, the chief Doctrines of Christianity. As now, to instance in one or two; There is the Doctrine of the Trinity in the Unity of the God-head; the Mystery of God beholding Himself with an Essential Perception, producing thence an Essential Satisfaction and so Three Persons in one God; This is a most profound Speculation! But in Prayer, this Incomprehensible Mystery, becomes practically Observable and Applicable. 'Tis said in Eph. 2.18. Thro' Christ, we both have Access, by one Spirit unto the Father. Such a process of Soul-affairs there is in our Prayers: First, God the Father as a Judge, does by the Spirit of Bondage drive us to the Lord Jesus Christ, as our Mediator: and then, the Lord Jesus Christ, as our Mediator, does by the Spirit of Adoption carry us back to God, as our Father. So the Trinity becomes as clearly manifested unto us, as it was on the Banks of Jordan, to the Spectators of our Lords Baptism, whither Athanasius did of old send the Antitrinitarians. Thus, the whole Mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ, with all the methods of Reconciliation between God and us, and many more such Illustrious Mysteries of Godliness, are most practically Illustrated in this piece of Godliness, our Prayer unto our God.
Moreover; A Third End of Prayer is, That we may Express and Profess our Dependance on the God, who made us Depending Beings. What said the Psalmist? in Psal. 62.8. Trust in him at all Times, ye People. Well, but how shall People show their Trust in God? It follows, Pour out your Heart before him. Our Out-poured Souls in Prayer, declare, That we must ascribe to God, all that we have, all that we hope, all that we ask; that nothing is owing to any Blind Chance at all. When we do by Prayer go to God, That He would Give us our Daily Bread, We do thereby say, That our Bread is none of our own till He give it us. 'Tis Theevery to take any thing without the Owners Leave. Wherefore 'tis said, Every Thing is Sanctified by Prayer; why, by Prayer for every thing, we do say, That God is the Right Owner of that Thing; That we may not meddle with it, except God will allow us to have it; Yea, That we cannot come at it at all, except God confer it upon us.
Furthermore; A Fourth End of Prayer is, That we may nourish an Humble Communion with the God, who Humbles Himself to take Notice of us. 'Tis in Prayer that we come to a marvellous Familiarity with the Lord our God, and arrive to that priviledge in Job. 22.21. Acquaint now thy self with Him, and be at peace. The Intercourse between the Great God, and the Worms of the Dust, in this Exercise, is indeed most Inexpressible! Hence Prayer is called, A Visit unto God; God and man becoming Friends, most Friendly Visits are in this way mutually given to one another. And this Communion with God, not only Emboldens our Access to Him, while we Live; of our Neighbour 'tis said, Withdraw thy Foot from thy Neighbours House, Lest he be weary of thee, and so Hate thee; with our Maker 'tis not so; No, He tells us, The oftner you come, the more welcome to me! So it Emboldens our Retreat to God, when we Dy. Oh! that my Hearers would sufficiently Lay to Heart, what I am now going to say unto them! I say unto you, That it will be a Dreadful Thing for a Soul Departing to appear before a God whom it has altogether been a Stranger unto. A Devout Soul going before God, may Rejoyce with a most Heavenly Triumph, saying, My God, I know thee! This is the God, with whom I have spent many a good Hour, before my coming hither; much Prayer does procure for us, this Felicity! O but for a wicked Soul, at its Expiration to think, I am about meeting with a God, unto whom I never did in all m… Lif… duplicate page duplicate page speak one sollicitous word, about my Eternal Interests! 'tis an horrible Agony that must amaze that wicked Soul.
Once more; A Fifth End of Prayer is, That we may preserve such a good Order of Soul, as is necessary in order to our Happiness. It is said of some, in 2 Tim. 2.22. They call on the Lord, out of a pure Heart. It is by Prayer, wherein we Call upon the Lord, that the Heart is made pure and kept what it is made. They that are often in the presence of Princes, must be a…ayes Trim, Neat, and in a fit posture. By much Prayer to the Great King, we maintain such a posture of Spirit, as is intended when we are bidden to Pray always. It is by our Disorderly Walking, that we gr…w shy of God; as when Adam had sinned, he then gat out of the way; and if we were not so shy of God, we should Walk less Disorderly. Yea, by Prayer we Lay new and strong Engagements upon our selves unto Well doing. We speak unto our selves, when we so speak unto our God. When we Pray and say, Our Father which art in Heaven, we do after a sort Preach to our selves, and say, O my Soul, do thou Love and Serve, and Rely upon God, as thy Heavenly Father! When we say, Sanctify'd be thy Name, we …ay, O my Soul, Do thou Sanctify that Holy Name! When we say, Thy Kingdom come, we say, O my Soul, Do …hou be a Loyal Suhject of that Kingdom! When we say, Thy Will be done, we say, O my Soul, Do thou never contradict that VVill! Thus 'tis, that we become gloriously prepared for the Favours of God: which is indeed …he Thing that He is waiting for. Lord, Thou wilt prepare the Heart of …he Humble, cause thine Ear to Hear …hem.
Finally, A Sixth End of Prayer, …s, That we may Support, yea, Un…oad our Hearts under our Griefs. What is Prayer, but the Disburthen…ng of the Soul? We are Invited, in … Pet. 5.7. Cast all your care upon God: and it is Explained, in Phil. 4.6. Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by Prayer, and Supplication, with Thanksgiving, Let your Requests be made known unto God. By Prayer it is, that we Transmit our Care; and so we Interest our God in every thing that were otherwise too hard for us. When was it that the sorrowful Hannah became no more sad? It was when she had poured out her Soul unto the Lord. All unuttered Care, is like the Imprisoned Air; it makes a grievous Disturbance. When we have carried all our Cares unto God, by Prayer, we may come away with Triumphant Souls from the Throne of Grace, and Leave all our Troubles, all our Sorrows, all our Fears behind us there. Our Prayer will be our Hearts ease; and for this cause 'tis that our kind God, would be the God of our Prayer. Well, The Fear of God will never permit a man, to have a Low Esteem of such Inestimable Benefits. But,
Secondly, If Prayer be Restrained, What good cause can be assigned for that Restraint? In truth, None but such as argues that men have cast off the Fear of God. As now,
I am sure, Men don't Fear God, if they don't feel that they Want God. But this may be said of all Prayerless Ones. As they of old, in Jer. 2.3. They said, we are Lords, we will come no more at thee; so these; They say, We can do well enough without the Lord. They are not sensible of their own Weakness, their own Darkness, and their continual wretchedness without the continual Conduct of God.
Again, I am sure, men don't Fear God, if they are not willing to Serve God. But this also may be said of all Prayerless Ones. As it was complained, in Isa. 43.22. Thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob, but hast been weary of me, O Israel▪ So when men are not every Day Calling on God, they therein proclaim themselves Weary of Him. And what an unworthy thing is this! The Lord may demand of us, Wherein have I weari…ed thee? What is there that shoul… make thee loth to wait upon me?
I add, It is by casting off the Fear of God, that men break thei… Peace with God. Now if men… Peace with God, were not broken… their Prayer to God, would not be remitted. The Psalmist found it so, in Psal. 32.3. When I kept silence, my Bones waxed old, thro' my Roaring all the Day long. When our Prayers are silent, there is probably some Old Roaring Guilt Lying upon us. Many complain, They do not, they cannot Pray; a Prayerless Drowsiness has overtaken them, and they know not what's the matter with them. Why, 'tis well if there be not some unrepented Sin upon you, Grieving the Holy Spirit of God; it is That which is a Quench-Prayer in your Souls.
Lastly, What Fear of God can there be in them, that say, There … no God at all? But such an Atheist … the Wretch, that Lives wholly …ithout Prayer to God. Hence, we …nd those things conjoined, in Psal. …4.1, 4. The Fool hath said in his heart, …here is no God; it follows, They call …ot upon the Lord. When a man …hall cast such a Contempt upon the God that made him, as to offer no Prayers unto His Maker, 'tis because …f a cursed Atheism Lurking and Working in the Heart of such a Fool. The worst of Infidels, are not …arried away with so much of Infi…elity. But,
Thirdly, The Fear of God, would certainly produce Prayer to God, if …hat Fear were not Rejected, but maintained, manifested, Exercised. Those things go together in Psal. …45.18, 19. The Lord is nigh to all …hem that call upon him, He will fulfil …he Desire of them that Fear Him. If men Fear God, they cannot but be Desirous to Call upon Him. What …s every Godly Man? He is a Praying man. So we are told, in Psal. 32.6. Every one that is Godly shall pray unto thee. A man does no sooner begin to have the Fear of God in his Heart, but it may be said of that man, Behold, he prays! As for the Prayerless man, he does neither Obey the Precept, nor Credit the Power, nor Adore the Goodness, of God; and I may say, How dwells the Fear of God in such a man. If men did Fear God, they would also Love the God whom they Fear. But that would cause them to say after the Psalmist, in Psal. 116.1, 2. I Love the Lord, therefore I will call up…n Him as long as I Live. Again, if men did Fear God, they would likewise Trust the God, whom they Fear. But that would cause them again to say after the Psalmist, in Psal. 116.10. I believed, therefore have I spoken; i. e. I have prayed. To have done, The Spirit of God is in them that have the Fear of God. Now, that Spirit is, The Spirit of Grace, and of Supplication. Men have the Grace to be much in Supplication when that Spirit has once Renewed them, and possessed them; they have then a Spirit for Prayer continually. Thus you see a fair way made for our Designed