Londons Resurrection, Discourse 31
DISCOURSE XXXI.
That to ſeek much unto God, by Prayer, and Faſting for ſucceſs, would be one of the beſt wayes to promote the City.
ALL great undertakings (and ſuch is the building of our City) ſhould be uſherd in, and carried on, with prayer, and faſting. In every thing by prayer and ſupplication let your requeſt be made known to God, is the rule given, Philip. 4.6. And if by prayer in every thing, then doubtleſs by faſting alſo, in things of greater weight, and moment: ought our requeſts to be made known. Prayer alone can do much, but joyned with faſting it may prevail yet more. Our Saviour ſpeaking of a ſort of Devils ſaith, This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and f…ſting, Mark 9.29. He ſaith not by prayer only but by faſting alſo.
Satan is the great obſtructer of every good work 1 Theſ. 2.18. We would have come unto you (even I Paul) once and again, but Satan hindred us. Never had that fowl fiend a greater mind to obſtruct the building of any City in the world (Jeruſalem only excepted) than I believe he hath to obſtruct the building of London. How ſhall we caſt him out but by prayer and faſting? Six other evil Spirits there are (if I may not call them Devils) which do vehemently oppoſe the rebuilding of London, and muſt be caſt out by the means forementioned. Firſt, the ſpirit of Fear, Diſcouragement and Deſpondency, Nehemiah 4.10. And Judah ſaid, the ſtrength of the bearers … burthens is decayed, and there is much rubbiſh, ſo that … are not able to build the Wall. And our adverſaries ſaid, they ſhall not know, neither ſee, till we come in the widſt amongſt them, and ſlay them, and cauſe the work to ceaſe, v. 11. This one ſpirit ſhould it ſo rage and domineer, as God might ſuffer it to do, might utterly prevent the building of London.
But what think you of the Spirit of Envy, and malice, is not that as bad? That Spirit oppoſed the building of Jeruſalem, and ſo it will of London ſo far as it can, or dare. Nehemiah 2.10. When San…allat and Tobiah heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, that there was come a man to ſeek the welfare of the children of Iſrael. Nehem. 4.9. The breaches began to be ſtopped, then they were very wroth, and conſpired all of them to fight againſt Jeruſalem, and to hinder it.
Another evil Spirit, which doth, or may hinder the building of London, is that of Jealouſie, and ſuſpicion, not only in, but of, and concerning that City. This Sanballat made great uſe of to hinder the building of Jeruſalem, Nehem. 6.6. It is reported among the heathens (ſaid he) that thou and the Jews think to rebel, for which cauſe thou buildeſt the wall that thou mayeſt be their King, &c. So ſome men have the unhappineſs to be jealous of their wives, though as chaſt women as are in the world, and others are ſo wicked as to perſwade them to it: now this impertinent, as well as evil ſpirit, muſt be kept, or caſt out by prayer, and faſting, that London may be rebuilt.
A ſpirit of anger, and diſcontent, may obſtruct the building of London, as much as any of the reſt, if God ſhould leave that ſpirit to do its worſt? So ſullen as the diſcontents of men do ſometimes make them, they will enterprize nothing, but will hide their hands in their boſomes, and not ſo much as bring it to their mouths again, as is ſaid of the ſlothful man, Prov. 19.24. and ſay as he Prov. 22.13. There is a Lion without, I ſhall be ſlain in the ſtreets. Men in high diſcontent, grow deſperate, and care not what becomes of any thing. This Spirit alſo muſt be caſt out or kept within ſome bounds, by prayer, and faſting.
There is alſo a private, ſelfiſh, ſelf-ſeeking ſpirit, which muſt be diſpoſeſſed, that any great, and good undertaking, may be carried on. Were all people of that ſpirit, none would contribute to the building of London but ſuch as had private ends, and particular concerns of their own. But if compaſſion, and good will towards others, and a regard to publick good, do not quicken that work, it will go on but ſlowly, or but little of it be for the uſe, and advantage of thoſe who have moſt need of it.
How eaſy were it to reckon up yet more evil Spirits, which by prayer and faſting, ſhould be caſt out, that the building of London may not by them be obſtructed? One is a Spirit of Strife and contention, a wrangling Spirit (as I may call it) a Spirit averſe unto compoſing, and agreeing of matters, upon juſt and equal terms, when the caſe is clear, and eaſy to be decided. If the reverend Judges muſt determine all, and every controverſy betwixt Landlord and Tenants, and none of them will agree amongſt themſelves: (neither can they begin to build till they are agreed:) how many hundreds of houſes will by that means be retarded? nor will ſo much as the foundations thereof be laid ſo ſoon, as otherwiſe the houſes themſelves might have been compleatly finiſhed. Some are of that humour that they never think well of a private de… not in the plaineſt caſe) and when they are offered better terms than the Law would give them) but to Law they will, whatſoever it coſt them, and how long ſoever the controverſie be like to de…end, how much more in this caſe, where they …n have Law for nothing, and are ſure to have …ick diſpatch, when they once come to a hearing? …et may ſome for ought I know wait another whole …ear, or upward, ere their turn will come to have …eir cauſe heard before the Judges, all which time …eir houſes muſt lye in aſhes; and if ſuch be their …mour there let them lye. If none but Moſes will …erve their turns to end every ſmall difference, let …em ſtay till he can be had: but in Moſes his time, …e rulers of thouſands, and the rulers of tens (as it might be our tithingmen) they judged every ſmall matter, and only greater matters were brought before him, Exod. 18.22, 26. Not one brick had been …id (as I ſuppoſe) in many ſcores of houſes that are …ow built, if they that were concern'd therein as …andlords, and Tenants, had not agreed of themſelves, their time for hearing before the Judges being … may be not yet come. So that if God will caſt, … keep out that Spirit of contention, which is in …me men, and which might poſſibly enter into …ore, which diſpoſeth men to admit of no determination but that of the Law, and Judges, which …ey cannot avoid (which ſhews they would never …gree if they could help it) I ſay if that Spirit were …ſt out, and men would ſave the reverend Judges … labour, and themſelves ſo much time by making …ir propoſitions on both ſides, and mutually accepting of them; then a much greater diſpatch might …e made with our City, than is otherwiſe like to be: Now that Spirit muſt be caſt out like all the reſt, by prayer and faſting. 2 Theſ. 3.16. Now the Lord of …ce give you peace always by all means.
Seventhly, here is a ſpirit of ſlumber ſpoken of, Rom. 11.8. which if it have not ceaſed upon Londoners as yet, it ſoon may, for what more incident to men, when they are ſad and heavy hearted, than to grow heavy eyed, and to fall aſleep? Chriſt having told his Diſciples that his Soul was exceeding ſorrowful even unto death, Mat. 26.38. (which words, it is like, filled them with ſorrow too) preſently they dropt aſleep though he had beſought them to watch with him but one hour. There is a great ſadneſs and diſcontent, upon people at this day, and thence no ſmall danger of a Spirit of ſlumber, and ſleepineſs to inſue, which is an evil ſpirit, a ſpirit that would never ſuffer the City to be rebuilt, for who can build in his ſleep? this ſpirit alſo ſhould be kept out by faſting and prayer, unto him who never ſlumbreth or ſleepeth.
And now it appeareth that if London be built again in any competent time, there are as many evil ſpirits to be caſt, or kept out of it, as there were Devils caſt out of Mary Magdalen, viz. ſeven, Mark 16.9. which I have called by their names. Nay give me leave to conclude, that I am verily of opinion, that all the Devils in Hell (God permitting them) would ſet themſelves to oppoſe and withſtand the building of London, which ſhews how great need there is of faſting and prayer, to carry it on, and make it fail as it were before the wind.
I may not ſtand to diſcourſe the reaſon and uſe of faſting in conjunction with prayer, or why prayer alone might not do as well. Faſting is a practical acknowledgment of our unworthineſs of thoſe good creatures of God, which on ſuch daies, we abſtain from, and by conſequence, of all others (for there is par ratio) which are as good as they. By faſting we acknowledg that we are unworthy of meats, and drinks, and if of meat to eat, much more of houſes to dwell in; which to be deprived of, were the leſs puniſhment of the two. Now they that have deſerved the greater puniſhment, to be ſure have deſerved the leſs. Now a hearty acknowledgment both in word and deed, of our great unworthineſs, is one of the main, and moſt prevailing things upon a day of humiliation. If then their uncircumciſed heart ſhall be humbled (ſaith God) and they then accept of the puniſhment of their iniquity, Levit. 26.41. Then will I remember the land. By confeſſing we deſerve no houſe or home (as by our faſting we do) if we faſt ſincerely) what do we but accept the puniſhment of our iniquity? which is the way to find mercy.
But ſith our rulers have appointed an anniverſary faſt; upon the account of the City, ſome may think all that I have ſaid touching this matter to be needleſs, but really it is not ſo. For firſt it doth not thence follow that the faſt they have appointed will be religiouſly and ſtrictly kept; (and as good never a whit as never the better, ſaith our proverb) or that by a great many, it will therefore be kept at all.
Neither ſecondly doth it thence follow, that one faſt in a year is as much as need to be, or as God doth expect from us, upon ſo ſolemn an occaſion. Rulers may think it not fit to anticipate the piety of the people, by leaving nothing at all to be done by them of their own accords, and as a free-will-offering. Moreover they are to make ſuch Laws, as all or the generality of men may be able to obſerve: Now all men are not in a capacity to faſt frequently; yea ſome it may be (ſo much greater is their leaſure) can better keep one faſt every week, than others can keep two in a whole year. So that though it may be no fault in our Magiſtrates, to injoyn but one faſt in a year, in order to imploring mercy for the deſolate City, yet it may be a great fault in the people (to whom it is as lawful to faſt, as it is to pray, without ſpecial command from their ſuperiors, as having a command for him that is ſupreme to pray always; that is at all opportunities, and faſting is but a neceſſary concomitant of prayer as the caſe may be) to obſerve no more than one day of religious faſting, throughout the whole year, upon ſo great an accompt.
We read that the daughters of Iſrael went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah four daies in a year, Judg, 11.40. Now what was the loſs of Jephthahs daughter to the loſs of ſuch a City as London was: (though ſhe were made a ſacrifice) but if that perpetual virginity, whereto ſhe was conſigned over by her fathers vow, (as ſome underſtand it from v. 39. Who did with her according to his vow, and ſhe knew no man) were all they went to bewail, four daies in a year, one would think that the loſs of ſuch a City as London, might better deſerve four weeks or moneths, every year to lament it, and which is more to implore mercy for it, whereas the condition of Jephthahs daughter was irretrievable, whether ſhe were put to death, or whether it were only that by her fathers vow, and her own ſuperadded conſent, ſhe was obliged to continue ſingle, all the daies of her life. Now Davids example may tell us, that when our faſting, and mourning can do good, as he thought it might for his child whilſt it lived, and we believe it may to our deſolate City, then chiefly, if not only, ought we to give way to it.
How often men ſhould faſt upon the loſs, and for the recovery of ſuch a City as London was, can be brought within no rule that will take in every man, only ſo often as God ſhall afford them real opportunities, of which ſome have ten times as many, within the compaſs of one year, as ſome others have.
But this may incourage us to be as frequent in prayer and faſting, as we can, namely that no ſuch ſervice, rightly performed, ſhall ever be in vain. Phyſicians need not be farther invited to make frequent viſits to their patients, that need it, than by finding they are always welcom, come as oft as they will, and do never loſe their labour. This is juſt the caſe: let us make as frequent applications as we will, or can, to the throne of grace, for our ſelves, or others, in ſuch manner as becometh us, we ſhall be always welcom, and not loſe our labour once. For God is nigh to all that call upon him in truth, in all things that they call upon him for, Deut. 4.7.
What better or more ſutable examples of praying and faſting, and of the good ſucceſs thereof in ſuch a caſe as that of our City, I ſay what better examples can we deſire than are afforded us in thoſe two famous men, viz. Ezra and Nehemiah, Ezra 8.21. Then I proclaimed a faſt that we might afflict our ſelves before our God, to ſeek of him a right way for us. Namely when he and others were going from Babylon to Jeruſalem, to rebuild the Temple of God there, v. 23. So we faſted and beſought our God for this, and he was intreated of us. Se alſo Nehemiah 1.4. And when I heard theſe words I ſat down and mourned certain daies, and faſted and prayed before the God of Heaven, viz. when he heard that the wall of Jeruſalem was broken down and the gates thereof burnt with fire, v. 3. The thing he prayed for, was that he might find favour in the Kings eyes; to go up to Jeruſalem, every way furniſhed to build that deſolate City. Now v. 8. it is ſaid, And the King granted me according to the good hand of my God upon me.
Now I wiſh that upon all that I have ſaid, the reſolution of men may be to keep that Anniverſary faſt, which the Magiſtrate hath appointed for the City, in the moſt ſolemn way that can be; and over and above that, to keep as many more ſuch dayes in private (though in publick they cannot, without publick leave) as they ſhall have opportunity to do. For as Iſrael prevailed againſt Amaleck as much by Moſes lifting up his hands, viz. in prayer as by the peoples brandiſhing their ſwords in war, Exod. 17.11. (for when he let down his hand Amaleck prevailed) ſo it is a real truth (how few ſoever do believe it) that thoſe who are builders, in the common acceptation of that word, viz. Carpenters, Bricklayers and other artificers, do not more truly contribute to the building of ſuch a City as London is (in which religion, as having been long known and profeſſed there, doth claim a great intereſt) than they do, who with tender regard to its recovery, do earneſtly apply themſelves to prayer, and faſting. The bridegroom of England (as in a civil ſenſe I may call London) though in a ſpiritual ſenſe Chriſt himſelf likewiſe is ſo called) being taken away, faſting is now in ſeaſon, for ſaith Chriſt (to which we only allude) when the bridegroom ſhall be taken from them, then ſhall they faſt. As the mother of Auguſtin comforted her ſelf with this concerning him, viz. That a ſon of ſo many prayers, and tears, ſhould not miſcarry, ſo may we comfort our ſelves concerning London, if it be a City, as he was a ſon, of many prayers, and tears, that it ſhall not miſcarry, but go out its full time, and be brought to its intended perfection.