An Offer of Farther Help to Suffering Saints, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Sheweth that a choice part of our preparation and readineſs for ſufferings, conſiſts in the improvement of our praying abilities, and keeping cloſe with God in that heavenly and excellent duty in dayes of ſuffering; wherein alſo of the nature and means of its improvement.
PRayer is ſaid to be amongſt Duties, as Faith is amongſt the Graces. Doubtleſs it is of ſpecial uſe and ſervice at all times to a Chriſtian; but yet in ſuffering dayes it is of more then ordinary uſe and neceſſity, Heb. 4.16. Jam. 5.13. and therefore is reckoned among thoſe choice pieces of Armour which ſuffering Saints are to put on, Epheſ. 6.18. I will here briefly diſcover the neceſſity of it, and then ſhew you that a Chriſtian may improve himſelf to an excellent degree in it; and laſtly preſcribe ſome means for ſuch an improvement.
The neceſſity of it to a ſuffering Saint will demonſtratively appear if you conſider;
1. That this duty is the out-let of troubles, and the beſt way the poor Chriſtian hath to eaſe his heart when ſurcharged with ſorrow. Griefs are eaſed by Groans. Such evaporations disburthen and cool the heart, as the opening of a Vein in ſome caſes doth. Oh the ſenſible eaſe that comes in this way! When grief in the mind, like vapours in the Air, are condenſed into black Clouds, that overſpread the Soul, and darken that beautifull Light that once ſhone there, then Prayer like the Sun diſpells and ſcatters them, 1 Sam. 1.18. Many a Saint by Prayer hath ſucked the breaſt of a Promiſe, and then fell aſleep by Divine contentment, in the boſome of God. A time may come, when thy heart ſhall be ready to break with trouble, and not a friend to whom thou canſt open and eaſe it: and then bleſſed be God for Prayer, Micah 7.5, 6, 7. That which ſinks others is, That when troubles fill and overwhelm their hearts, they try what Reaſon, merry Company, or outward Comforts can do: but alas! this is to palliate a cure, it returns again with the more violence: but this gives ſenſible relief, Pſal. 102. title, Pſal. 62.8. For firſt, this opens and gives a vent to troubles, Jer. 20.12. (2) It gives our troubles a diverſion, and ſo a cure, Pſal. 5.1. and laſt verſ. compared. Yea (3) by praying over them, they are not onelyonly diverted but ſanctified, and ſo ceaſe to be diſtracting.
2. As it gives a vent to our troubles, ſo an in-let to unſpeakable comforts and conſolations. See a pregnant inſtance of this, Act. 16.25. For (1) hereby they obtain gracious anſwers from the Lord concerning their troubles, 2 Cor. 12.9. In this alſo they meet the gracious ſmiles of God which ſwallow up their troubles, Pſal. 85.8. And laſtly, hereby they engage the temper of God to open a ſeaſonable and effectual door out of all their troubles, Pſal. 34.4, 6.
3. Prayer begets and maintains holy courage, and magnanimity in evill times, when all things about you tend to diſcouragement. It is your being with Jeſus that makes you bold, Acts 4.13. He that uſes to be before a great God, will not be afraid to look ſuch little things as men are in the face. The woman clothed with the Sun, had the Moon under her feet. And what need you have of courage in evil times, hath been already ſhewed.
4. This is a duty you may perform at any time, or in any condition: No Adverſary can cut you off from it. It cannot be ſaid ſo of many other duties. None can hinder the intercourſe betwixt Heaven and your Souls. You may perform it in a Priſon, Acts 16.25. in a baniſhed condition, Pſal. 61.2. and ſo is fitted for a ſuffering condition.
Laſtly, you muſt ſtrive to excell in this, foraſmuch as no Grace within, or Service without can thrive without it. God hath ordained the whole work of Grace to grow up to perfection this way, Jude 19.20. He will have all mercies fetched out this way, Ezek. 36.37. Jer. 29.11, 12, 13. All that comes from God to you, or to you from God, muſt come in this Channell. Be convinced then, of the need you have to improve your ſelves herein, as ever you hope to ſtand in the evil day.
But how are theſe praying abilities capable of improvement in the people of God? Queſt.
Praying abilities are either externall and common, or elſe internal and ſpeciall: Sol. The external and common ability, is nothing elſe but that dexterity and skill men get, to expreſs themſelves to God in Prayer, which men have by nature or induſtry. Thus many can put their meaning into apt and decent expreſſions, to which the Spirit ſometimes adds his common touches upon the affections. And this Hypocrites reſt and glory in. Or elſe they are ſpecial and internal, whereby men are enabled to pour out their ſouls to God in a ſaving manner. And this may be conſidered either in the Habit or Act. The Habit is given by the Spirit, when the principles of Grace are firſt infuſed into the ſoul, Zech. 12.10. Acts 9.11. By being ſanctified we are made near, and by acting thoſe principles in Prayer we are ſaid to draw near, Pſal. 10.17. Now in our actual drawing near to God, the Spirit hath the chief and principal hand: and his aſſiſtance therein is threefold.
1. He excites the heart to the duty; 'tis he that whiſpers to the Soul to draw nigh to God, Pſal. 27.8.
2. He ſuggeſts the matter of our Prayers, and furniſheth us with the Materials, Rom. 8.26. guiding us as to the matter, not onelyonly to what is lawful, but alſo to what is expedient for us.
3. He ſtirreth up ſuitable Affections in Prayer, Rom. 8.26. and hence thoſe groans and tears, thoſe gaſpings and vehement anhelations. But notwithſtanding all our Abilities, both habitual and actual, be from the Spirit, and not from our ſelves, yet are they capable of improvement by us: For though in reſpect of acquirement, there be a great difference betwixt natural and ſupernatural Habits, yet their improvement is in the ſame way and manner; and this improvement may be made divers wayes. For,
Firſt, Though you have the Spirit, and can pray, yet you may learn to pray more humbly then before: Though you riſe no higher as to words, yet you may learn to lay your ſelves lower before the Lord, as Abraham and Ezra did, Gen. 18.27. Ezra 9.6.
Secondly, You may learn to pray with more ſincerity then formerly: Ah! there is much Hypocriſie and Formality in our Prayers, much of Cuſtom, &c. Now, you may learn to pour out more Cordial Prayers. See Pſal. 17.1. Pſal. 119.10.
Thirdly, You may learn to pray with more zeal and earneſtneſs then before: Some Saints have excelled, and been remarkable for this, Dan. 9.19. Hoſ. 12.4. James 5.16.
Fourthly, With more aſſiduity and readineſs at all times for it, Epheſ. 6.18. Praying alwayes, with all Prayer. Hence Chriſt gives that commendation to the Church, Cant. 4.11. Thy Lips, O my Spouſe, drop as the Honey Comb: The Honey Comb often drops, but always hangs full of Drops ready to fall.
Fifthly, You may learn to pray with more Faith: Oh the Qualms of Unbelief, that go over our Hearts in a Duty! Faith is the Soul of Prayer, and according to the Faith God finds in them, he accepts and values them. Now in all theſe things, you may improve your ſelves abundantly.
1. By being more frequent in the Duty, Job 22.21. acquaint thy ſelf with the Almighty; in the Hebrew it is, accuſtom thy ſelf: Thoſe that have been excellent, have alſo been abundant in it, Pſal. 55.17.
2. By taking heed that you grieve not the Spirit, on whoſe influences and aſſiſtances, you ſo intirely depend: Even as much as a Ship doth upon the Gales of Wind for its motion.
3. By honouring the Spirit which enables you to pray, and that eſpecially two ways; (1) By dependance on him; go not forth in your own ſtrength to the Duty, truſt not upon your own promptneſs, or preparations. (2) By returning, and with thankfulneſs aſcribing the praiſe of all to him: Be humble under all Enlargements: Say, Not I, but Grace.
4. By ſearching your own Hearts, and examining your Neceſſities and Wants, when you draw nigh to God; this will be a Fountain of Matter, and give you a deep Reſentment of the worth of Mercies pray'd for.
5. Laſtly, By looking more at the exerciſe of Graces, and leſs at the diſcovery of Parts; by labouring for Impreſſions more, and pumping for Expreſſions leſs. And thus I have briefly ſhewed you, how to furniſh yourſelves with this needfull Qualification alſo.