The Middle Things, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
SECT. 1. Of preparation to PRAYER.
HItherto of all the duties in reference onelyonly to ſecret, private or publike Ordinances; now follow ſuch duties as have reference joyntly to all three, and they are either
ordinary, as
Praying.
Reading the Word.
extraordinary, as
Faſting.
Feaſting.
The firſt of theſe duties is prayer, in which (as in the former) there is required ſome things,
1. Antecedent.
2. Concommitant.
3. Subſequent.
1. There is ſomething required before, viz. Preparation; now this Preparation conſiſts partly in
Removing impediments.
Uſing the means.
1. The Impediments to be removed are theſe:—
1. We muſt lay aſide all carnal thoughts, and worldly cares, which might diſtract our mindes:Eccles 5.1. Keep thy foot when thou goeſt to Gods houſe, ſaith Solomon; q.d. look with what affection and diſpoſition thou comeſt to God in prayer.
2. We muſt put off our ſhoes (i.) remove our pollutions and corrupt affections, as carnal luſts, anger and doubting:1 Tim. 2.8. I will that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
3. We muſt avoid ſurfeting and drunkenneſs, which makes the heart dull and heavy: Take heed to your ſelves, Luke 21 34, 53.leſt at any time your hearts be overcharged with ſurfeting and drunkenneſs, and the cares of this world; with ordinary prayer we muſt joyn a moderate diet, and with extraordinary, faſting.
Pſal. 26.6.4. We muſt caſt off our ſins: I will waſh my hands in innocency, and ſo will I compaſs thine altar, O Lord.
5. We muſt draw off from prayer, from reſting in it, or truſting upon it; a man may pray much, and in ſtead of drawing nigh to God, or injoying ſweet communion with Chriſt, he may draw nigh to prayer, his thoughts may be more upon his prayer, then upon God to whom he prays; and he may live more upon his cuſhion, then upon Chriſt: but when a man indeed draws nigh to God in prayer, he forgets prayer, and remembers God, and prayer goes for nothing, but Chriſt is all.
2. The means to be uſed are
Prayer.
Meditation.
1. Prayer; a little eating prepareth a weak ſtomack, and ſetteth an edge upon the appetite to eat more: To this purpoſe David prayed before prayer,Pſal. 141.2, 3. Let my prayer be ſet forth before thee as incenſe, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening ſacrifice: Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, keep the door of my lips.
2. Meditation, 1. On our own unworthineſs, that ſo we may pray in humility:Gen 32.10. Ezra 9.6. I am leſs then the least of all thy mercies, ſaid Jacob: O my God, I am aſhamed and confounded to lift up mine eyes, ſaid Ezra. 2. On the glorious majeſty of God our Father:Eccles. 5.2. He that ſpeaks to God, muſt remember that God is in Heaven; nay, what is prayer, but a coming before God, an approaching to God, a meeting of God? in prayer we have to to do with God, and this will teach us to ſpeak to him in reverence. 3. On the mediation and interceſſion of our Savior Chriſt, which is the very ground of our faith in prayer: Whatſoever ye ſhall ask in my name, John 14.13.that I will do. 4. On the promiſes of God in Chriſt, made to our prayers: Thou, O Lord of hoaſts, 2 Sam. 7.27, 28, 29.God of Iſrael, haſt revealed to thy ſervant, ſaying, I will build thee an houſe, therefore hath thy ſervant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee: Gen. 32.11, 12.—And deliver me, I pray thee (ſaith Jacob) from the hands of my brother Eſau; Thou ſaidſt, I will ſurely do thee good: Mat 6.6.Such promiſes have we all, Ask, and ye ſhall have; ſeek, &c.
SECT. 2. The general duties of the ſoul in prayer.
2. THe duties in prayer, are either internal or external: The former are the duties of the ſoul, the latter are the duties of the body.
1. The duties of the ſoul we ſhall conſider
in general.
in particular.
The duty in general is to pray,
In truth.
By the Spirit.
In the name of Chriſt.
1. In truth, (i.) in ſincerity and uprightneſs of heart:Pſal. 145.18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him in ſincerity and in truth: Hence two faults are to be avoided.
1. Praying with feigned lips, this is to pray with an heart and an heart, as all hypocrites do: but 'tis otherwiſe with the Saints: Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry, Pſal. 17.1.give ear to my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2. Praying with wandring thoughts, ariſing partly from the fleſh, and partly from the ſuggeſtions of Satan: The ſpeech of the mouth muſt not go before, but always follow after the conceit of the minde: Many times as a Muſicians fingers will run over a ſong which he hath been uſed to play, although his minde be otherwiſe occupied; ſo many in prayer will run over that form of words they have been uſed to utter, though their mindes be roving about other matters: Such a prayer is called, Lip-labor: O let the abſurdity of the fault, breed in us a loathing of it; Do our mindes wander in prayer? endeavor we to joyn into one ſpeech, the prayer of the mouth, and the ſpeech of the heart, both which ſound in Gods ears, and then conſider whether we would make ſuch a ſpeech (I ſay not with Malachi, Mal. 1.8.To our Prince, but) to any man whom we regard, which yet we are not aſhamed to offer unto the Lord: I will not deny in ſuch a caſe, if we be grieved for, and ſtrive and pray againſt ſuch wandrings; this infirmity through Gods mercy, and the interceſſion of Chriſt ſhall not be imputed unto us. It is good to diſtinguiſh of the cauſe whence theſe wandring thoughts may ariſe; if they come from weakneſs in our ſelves, or from the temptations of Satan, the Lord will conſider this, and deal mercifully with us; but if they ariſe from meer negligence, or voluntary admitting of looſe thoughts, that is our ſin, and we had need to repent and mourn for it.
Rom. 8.26.2. By the help of the Spirit: It is the Spirit that helps our infirmities (ſaith Paul) for we know not what we ſhould pray for as we ought, but the Spirit it ſelf maketh interceſſion for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered; q.d. when we put forth the graces of the Spirit in us, then the Spirit comes and helps, and what comes from us now, it comes from the breathings of the Spirit. This helping of the Spirit] is very Emphatical in the Original; as a man taking up an heavy piece of timber by the one end, cannot alone get it up, till ſome other man takes it up at the other end, and ſo helps him: So the poor ſoul that is a pulling and tugging with his own heart, he findes it heavy and dull, like a log in a ditch, and he can do no good with it, till at laſt the Spirit of God comes at the other end, and takes the heavieſt end of the burthen, and ſo helps the ſoul to lift it up. In our prayers we ſhould eye the Spirit of God, we ſhould caſt our ſouls upon the aſſiſtance of the Spirit, we ſhould preſs the Lord with this Promiſe, Lord, thou haſt ſaid, that thy Spirit helps our infirmities, when we know not what we pray for, nor how to pray for any thing as we ought: Now make good this word of thine to my ſoul at this time, let me have the breathings of the Spirit of God in me; alas, the breathings of man, if it come from gifts and parts, thou wilt never regard, except there be the breathings of the holy Ghoſt in me.
Queſt. But how ſhould we know whether the Spirit of God come in, or no?
Anſ. We may know it by this; The Spirit of God carries unto God, and it makes the prayer ſweet and delightful, it leaves a ſavor behinde it. O the breath of the Spirit of God is a ſweet breath, and it makes ſweet prayers; it never comes into the ſoul, but after it hath done any work it came for, it leaves a ſweet ſcent behinde: as Civit that is put into a little box, though you ſhould take out the Civit, yet there will be a ſweet ſavor left behinde; ſo though the Spirit of God, in reſpect of the preſent aſſiſtance, withdraws it ſelf, yet it leaves a ſweet ſavor behinde it.
3. In the Name of Chriſt: Iohn 14.13.for Whatſoever you ask the Father in my Name, that I will do. There is a neceſſity of praying in Chriſts Name,
1. In regard of Admiſſion.
2. In regard of Aſſiſtance.
3. In regard of Acceptance.
1. In regard of Admiſſion: God is a conſuming fire, and we are dryed ſtubble; there is no approaching to him, but in Chriſt, in whom we have acceſs with boldneſs to the Throne of Grace: God will not look pleaſingly on us, if we come without Chriſt, he is no Throne of Grace without him; it is Chriſt who makes that which was a Bar of Juſtice, a Bench of Mercy; in him we have admiſſion: Do we fall upon the Duty of Prayer? do it not in the ſtrength of man, but in the ſtrength of Chriſt: ſay, Lord, I come alone in the Merits of Chriſt, to partake of the Merits of the Lord Jeſus: I have endeavored to prepare my ſelf through thy grace, but I look not for admiſſion through my preparations or dispoſitions, but through the blood and mediation of Jeſus Chriſt.
2. In regard of Aſſiſtance: We pray, but we have no ſtrength to do it without Chriſt; we might as well be ſet to move Mountains, as to pray without the ſtrength of Chriſt: Without me (ſaith Chriſt) you can do nothing; without union with Chriſt, without communion with Chriſt,Iohn 15.5. we can do nothing: from Chriſt we muſt have both operating and co-operating ſtrength, both inherent and aſſiſtant ſtrength; otherwiſe though we have grace, we ſhall not be able to perform any work, nor exerciſe our own graces: it is he that muſt work all our works in us and for us, the inherent work of grace within us, and the required works of duty for us: And bleſſed be that God, who hath given to us what he requireth of us, and hath not onelyonly made Precepts Promiſes, but Promiſes Performances.
3. In regard of Acceptance: Our works, they are not onelyonly impotent, but impure too, as they come from us: It is Chriſt that muſt put validity to them, it is Chriſt that muſt put his own odours to them, it is Chriſt that muſt put both Spirit and Merit to them, his grace to work, and his blood to own them, for whatever comes from his Spirit, it is preſented through his Merit: Here is great comfort: Do we look over our performances, & wonder that ever God ſhould accept them? ſo much deadneſs, ſo little life, ſo much coldneſs? conſider then, that God looks upon them, not as ours, but as Chriſts, in whom not onelyonly our perſons, but our performances are accepted: Chriſt gives us his ſpirit, and Chriſt is willing to own what we preſent by his Spirit, and God is willing to own whatever is preſented to him by Chriſt his Son. This rightly conſidered, it will cauſe us in every petition put up, to think our ſelves ſo much beholding to Chriſt, that we ſhall be ready to ſay in our hearts, when any petition is granted, I may thank Jeſus Chriſt for this.
But what is it to pray in Chriſts name?
I anſwer, 1. To pray in Chriſts name, is to pray with reliance upon the grace, favor and worthineſs of the merits of Chriſt, in whom we have believed, Eph. 3.12.and have acceſs with confidence, by the faith of him: Chriſts ſatisfaction is the ground of our interceſſion, becauſe Chriſts blood hath purchaſed this (we pray) therefore, O Lord, grant this.
2. To pray in Chriſts name, is to pray from his command, and according to his will; as when we ſend another in our name, we wiſh him to ſay thus,Hoſea 14.3. Tell him, I ſent you, and that I deſire ſuch a thing of him; ſo when we take thoſe words which the Lord puts in our mouthes, and deſire thoſe things onelyonly that the Lord commands us to ſeek, whether abſolutely, or conditionally, this is to pray in his name.
3. To pray in Chriſts name, is to pray for his ends, for the ſake and uſe of Chriſt:Mat. 10.41. Thus the phraſe is uſed, To receive a prophet in the name of a prophet (i.) for this end and reaſon, becauſe he is a prophet. Now let Chriſtians obſerve, when they would have any thing of God, to what uſe and end, and for whoſe ſake it is:Iames 4.3. You ask, and have not, becauſe you ask amiſs, to ſpend it on your luſts. A luſt is properly ſuch a deſire (though for lawful things) wherein a man muſt have a thing,Exod. 17.2. becauſe it pleaſeth him: Give us water, that we may drink (was the bruitiſh cry of Iſrael) not that we may live to him that gives it; holy deſires or prayers (oppoſed unto luſts) are ſuch deſires of the ſoul left with God, with ſubmiſſion to his will, as may beſt pleaſe him for his glory.
SECT. 3. The particular duties of the ſoul in prayer.
THe Duties of the ſoul in particular, are ſuch as are—
in the minde.
in the heart.
1. In the minde, two things are required,
Knowledge.
Faith.
1. Knowledge
of God to whom we pray.
of that for which we pray.
1.Iohn 4 22. We muſt know and acknowledge Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent: Chriſt told the Samaritans, Ye worſhip ye know not what; far be it from Chriſtians thus to do: Without this knowledge we ſhall wander into Will-worſhip, and ſuperſtitious inventions;1 Chron. 28.9. And therefore know thou the God of thy fathers (ſaid Solomon) and ſerve him with a perfect heart.
2. We muſt know and underſtand what we pray, otherwiſe we are ſubject to our Saviors reproof,Mat. 20.22. You ask you know not what: two ſorts of men are here condemned 1. Thoſe that pray in an unknown tongue. 2. Thoſe who pray in a known tongue, but underſtand not what they pray.
2. Faith,
more general.
more ſpecial.
1. Faith more general is ſuch a faith, as apprehends the main promiſe of the Goſpel concerning ſalvation by Chriſt.
2. Faith more ſpecial, is ſuch a faith as apprehends the precious promiſes made to our prayers, whereby we are perſwaded that our particular requeſts ſhall be granted unto us, onelyonly with this diſtinction,—in matters ſpiritual, neceſſary to ſalvation, we are to ask abſolutely, as being perſwaded that God hath ſubordinated our ſalvation to his own glory; and we are to believe abſolutely, that the Lord will grant them unto us; yea, it is a good ſign, if we deſire any ſaving grace, that the ſame grace is begun in us: but in matters temporal or ſpiritual, not neceſſary to ſalvation, we are to ask them conditionally, ſo far forth as they may ſtand with Gods glory, and the good of our ſelves and our brethren; and we are to believe that he will ſo far forth grant them:Mat. 26.39. Thus our Savior prayed in the like caſe, O my Father, if it be poſſible, let this cup paſs from me, nevertheleſs, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
2. In the heart three things are requiſite,
Humility.
Reverence.
Ardency of ſpirit.
1. Humility, which is derived ab humo, from the ground; intimating, that when we pray, we ſhould humble our ſelves, as it were to the ground: Thus the Chriſtians in the eaſtern Churches were wont to caſt themſelves down to the ground, when they called upon God:Gen. 18.27. and 32.10. 2 Sam. 6.22. Iſa. 6.5. Thus Abraham acknowledged himſelf but duſt and aſhes; Thus Jacob confeſſed himſelf leſs then the leaſt of all Gods mercies; thus David profeſſed, that he would be vile before the Lord; thus Iſaiah cryed out, I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: Ezra 9.6.Thus Ezra prayed, O my God, I am aſhamed, and bluſh to lift up my face to thee, my God, for our iniquities are increaſed over our head, and our treſpaſs is grown up unto the Heavens: Thus the Centurion, Lord, Mat. 8.8.I am not worthy that thou ſhouldſt come under my roof: Thus the woman of Sirophaenicia, confeſſeth her ſelf a dog in compariſon of the Iſraelites; and thus the Prodigal received to favor, confeſſeth himſelf unworthy to be called a ſon: Here's a cloud of witneſſes, concluding that Humility in the heart is requiſite in prayer.
Pſal. 2.11.2. Reverence of the majeſty of God: Serve the Lord with reverence, and rejoyce with trembling: The bleſſed Angels being in Gods preſence, and ſounding forth his praiſe, are deſcribed as having ſix wings, whereof two pair ſerve to cover their faces and their feet, Iſa. 6.2.hereby betokening their wonderful reverence of God: How much more ſhould we, who inhabit theſe houſes of clay, (ſubject to infirmities, and corrupted with ſin) be ſtricken with an awful reverence of Almighty God? did we conſider our ſelves to be in the midſt of Angels, before the God of Angels, performing the like exerciſe as the Angels, how would this ſtrike us with a reverence of this great King of Heaven?
3. Ardency, or fervency of ſpirit; this gives wings to our prayers, and cauſeth them to aſcend before God; this ſets on work all the graces of Gods Spirit, and the more fervent the prayer is, the more they are intended, actuated, increaſed: I mean not thus of every fervency; there is a fervency of faith, and a fervency of meer natural deſires: In this latter, there is no holineſs, no fire of the Spirit, but in the former there is: When Chriſt lived upon earth, many came to him, and ſome were exceedingly importunate to be healed, or to have Devils caſt out, &c. now if he anſwered their requeſts, his uſual phraſe was, Be it unto thee (not according to thy importunity and fervency, but) according to thy faith; q.d. I heed not, I regard not this clamor and earneſtneſs, if it be onelyonly out of meer natural deſires, but if it be out of Faith; if beſides ſence of need, you have in you a true hope of mercy, then be it unto thee according to that: This fervency is ſet out in the Word by divers ſignificant phraſes; ſometimes it is called A crying unto the Lord, thus Moſes cryed unto the Lord, and Samuel cryed unto the Lord, Exod 8.12. 1 Sam 7.9. 1 King. 17.20, 21. 2 Kings 20.11. Ionah 3.8. Iſa. 37.4. Lam. 2.19. 1 Sam. 7.6.and Eliah cryed unto the Lord, and Iſaiah cryed unto the Lord; ſometimes a crying mightily: Let man and beaſt be covered with ſackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: ſometimes a lifting up of our prayers; wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left, ſaid Hezekiah to Iſaiah: ſometimes a pouring forth our ſouls before the Lord like water; O wall of the daughter of Zion,— pour out thy heart like water before the face of the Lord: Thus the Iſraelites drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and faſted on that day, and ſaid there, We have ſinned againſt the Lord: ſometimes a groaning in ſpirit, or groans of the ſpirit; Rom. 8.26. 1 Theſſ. 3.10. Col. 4.12.The Spirit it ſelf maketh interceſſion for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered: ſometimes a praying exceedingly; ſometimes a praying fervently, ſometimes a ſtriving with God: Rom. 15.30.Now I beſeech you brethren, for the Lord Jeſus Chriſts ſake, and for the love of the Spirit, Gen. 32.24.that you ſtrive together with me in your prayers to God for me: ſometimes a wreſtling with God: Thus Jacob wreſtled with a man (i.) with God in form of a man, until the breaking of the day: —All theſe …raſes do ſet forth the excellency, the neceſſity of this ardency, fervency of prayer, required in the text.
SECT. 4. The duties of the body in prayer.
1 Tim 4.8.THus far of the duties of the ſoul in prayer; as for bodily exerciſe (of it ſelf) it profiteth little: but if joyned with the ſoul,1 Cor. 6.20. it is of great importance; Therefore glorifie God in your body, and in your Spirit, for both are Gods.
The duties of the body may be reduced to theſe two heads:
The geſture of the body.
The ſpeech of the mouth.
Concerning the firſt; in publike prayer we are to follow the cuſtom of the Church wherein we live, if it be without ſcandal and ſuperſtition: In private prayer we may take our liberty, ſo that our geſture be correſpondent to the affections and diſpoſitions of the ſoul.—In Scripture we read of theſe ſeveral geſtures: 1. Standing, which is a token of reverence and ſervice, 2 Kings 5.25. 1 Sam. 16.21. 1 Kings 10.8. Job 29.7, 8. Gen. 18.22. 2 Cor. 20.5. Pſal. 134.1. Luke 18.13. Mark 11.25. 2. Kneeling, which is a token of our humility and earneſtneſs in prayer, Pſal. 95.6. 2 Chro. 6.13. Dan. 6.10. Acts 7.60. and 9.40. and 20.36. Luke 22.41. 3. Proſtration, or falling on the ground, or falling on the face, a geſture of the greateſt humiliation, though not uſed amongſt us in theſe parts of the world, Numb. 16.22. Joſh. 5.14. Ezek. 9.8. and 11.13. Mat. 26.39. 4. Sitting, lying, walking, riding, journeying, in ſome caſes, 2 Sam. 7.18. 1 Kings 19.4. Iſa. 38.2. Pſal. 6.6. Gen. 24.26. 2 Chron. 18.31. 5. Ʋncovering of the head in men, covering of the head in women, which is a token of ſubjection, 1 Cor. 11.7, 10. Rev. 4.10. 6. Lifting up, and caſting down of the eyes, the former being a token of faith, the latter of dejection and hum…tion, Pſal. 123.1. Mat. 14.19. John 11.41. and 17.1. Luke 18.13. 7. Lifting up, or ſtretching forth of the hands; expreſſing humility and earneſt affection; and knocking them on the breaſt, which betokens guilt, and earneſt deſire of pardon, Exod. 9.33. Pſal. 143.6. 1 Kings 8.22. Pſalm 134.2. Lam. 3.41. Luke 18.13. Luke 23.48.
Concerning the ſecond; viz. The voice or ſpeech of the mouth; it is neceſſary in Church or family, and moſt convenient in private: Now the voyce uſed in prayer, is either
Inarticulate.
Articulate.
1. The inarticulate, is that which is uttered in ſighing, groaning and weeping: Lord, all my deſire is before thee; Pſal 38.9. Iſa. 38.14.and my groaning is not hid from thee, ſaith David; and Hezekiah profeſſeth, That he did chatter like a crane or a ſwallow, and did mourn like a dove; Rom. 8.26.And the Spirit himſelf maketh interceſſion for us with groanings, which cannot be uttered.
2. The articulate voyce, is the external ſpeech it ſelf, whereby the prayer is expreſſed, wherein three things are conſiderable,
Quantity,
Quality.
Form.
1. For Quantity, we muſt not affect prolixity, as if for multitude of words we looked to be heard: When ye pray, Mat. 6.7.uſe not vain repetition, as the heathen do: The Heathen thought, that their gods did not always hear, as being otherwiſe imployed (ſo Elias told Baals Prieſts) and therefore they uſed to repeat the ſame things often, that if they did not hear them at one time, they might hear them at another time; thus Chriſtians muſt not pray, they muſt not lengthen their prayers, as conceiving that either God hears not, or that he will hear for the lengths ſake; but on the other ſide, where is variety of good matter, uttered with the attention of minde, and vigor of affection, there the longer we continue in prayer, the better it is.
2. For Quality, we need not be curious in reſpect of the ſtile, God looking to the heart, rather then the ſpeech: As it is not the lowdneſs of a Preachers voice, but the weight and holineſs of the matter, and ſpirit of the Preacher, that moves a wiſe and intelligent hearer; ſo not gifts, but graces in prayers, are they that move the Lord: The reaſon, prayer moves not God as an Orator, but as a childe moves his Father: two words of a childe humbled, and crying at his fathers feet, will prevail more then penn'd orations: it is the meaning of the ſpirit that God looks unto, more then the expreſſions, for the groans are ſaid to be unutterable, Rom. 8.26. yet muſt we not be more careleſs and negligent for the maner of ſpeech, then we would be, if we were to ſpeak to a mortal man: If ye offer the blinde for ſacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and ſick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy Governor, will he be pleaſed with thee, or accept thy perſon? ſaith the Lord of hoſts, Mal. 1.8.Mal. 1.8.
3. For the Form: We are not tyed to any ſet form, nor are we ſo tyed to conceived prayer, as that it muſt be without all ſtudy or meditation, either againſt the inſtant, or in former times: A man may conceive a prayer ex tempore, and yet without Euthuſiaſms, or extraordinary revelations; viz. by the help of his former ſtudies and Meditations: and that I may afford ſome help that way, I ſhall in concluſion of this Chapter, lay down a directory for prayer, together with a form of prayer (though broken) in Scripture phraſes.
SECT. 5. Duties after Prayer.
3. THe Duties ſubſequent, which follow after prayer, are theſe:—
1. Quietly to reſt in the good will and pleaſure of God, not doubting but the Lord hath heard our Prayers, and in good time ſhall grant that which ſhall be moſt for his glory and our good; and this is the meaning of the word Amen, wherewith we ſeal up our prayers.
2. Diligently to uſe all good means for the obtaining of our ſuits; as if I pray for faith, or any other ſpiritual Grace, I muſt beſides prayer, uſe all good means carefully, which the Lord hath ordained for the begetting and increaſing of thoſe graces in us, as hearing the Word preached, receiving the Sacrament, reading the Word, and meditating on it, otherwiſe our prayers are a tempting of God, as if he muſt grant, not by means, but by miracles.
3. Carefully to look after our prayers, and to caſt up our comings in, and gainings by prayers, otherwiſe we are like fooliſh Venturers, who have a great ſtock a going, but look not after their returns: In the morning I will direct my prayers, Pſal. 5.3.and look up:] There are two military words in the verſe, David would not onelyonly pray, but marſhal up his prayers, put them in array; and when he had done ſo, he would be as a ſpy upon a tower, to ſee whether he prevailed, whether he got the day: For the better unfolding this myſtery of grace, I ſhall propound and give Anſwer to ſome Quaeres or caſes of Conſcience as:—
1. Suppoſe I have prayed, how ſhall I aſſuredly know that God hears, and will anſwer in his own time?
2. Suppoſe the thing I deſired ſhall not be anſwered, how may I aſſuredly know that God notwithſtanding doth hear my prayers?
3. Suppoſe after prayer I obſerve all I can, I can by no means diſcern, that either God will anſwer, or doth hear my prayers, what ſhall I do then?
4. Suppoſe the thing I deſire is anſwered, how may I aſſuredly know it was at my prayers, or out of common providence?
5. Suppoſe that others joyned with me in thoſe prayers now anſwered, how ſhall I know that my prayers had an hand in obtaining thoſe anſwers, as well as any others?
6. Suppoſe I am aſſured upon former obſervations, that God hath heard and anſwered my prayers in their particulars, what muſt I do then?
SECT. 6. The firſt Caſe: Suppoſe I have prayed, how may I aſſuredly know that God hears, and will anſwer in his own time?
VVE may reſolve this caſe, by ſome obſervations before prayer, in prayer, and after prayer.
1. Before prayer: When God prepares the heart to pray, when he pours upon a man a Spirit of Grace and Supplication, a praying diſpoſition; when he puts in motives, ſuggeſts arguments and pleas unto God, as materials for prayer; all which you ſhall finde to come in readily, and of themſelves; and that likewiſe with a quickning heat, and inlargement of affections, with a lingring, and longing, and reſtleſneſs of ſpirit, to pour out the ſoul unto God: This is a ſign that God lends his ear, and will return anſwers: Thou wilt prepare their heart; thou wilt cauſe thine ear to hear; Pſal. 10.17.q. d. Thou faſhioneſt the heart, and compoſeſt it into a praying frame, and that is a ſign, Lord, that thou meaneſt to hear.
2. In prayer: As 1. when God draws nigh, and reveals himſelf to thy ſoul, in and upon ſuch or ſuch a particular petition, when God ſmiles upon thee, welcoms thee, falls about thy neck and kiſſeth thee; when no ſooner thou comes into his preſence to inquire of him, but he ſays, Here I am, as the promiſe is, Iſa. 58.9.Iſa. 58.9. this thou art to obſerve as a ſign that he hears thy prayer,Pſa. 69.17, 18. and accepts both thee and it: Hear me ſpeedily (ſaith David) and that I may know thou hearest me, draw nigh unto my ſoul, Pſal. 69.17. 2. When God doth put a reſtleſs importunity into the heart, maugre all diſcouragements, for this or that mercy; and when this importunity is joyned with a ſubjection to Gods will, and runs along with it, then hath God ſtirred it up, and then look for ſomething to come: You know the parable,Luke 18.5. how the unjuſt Judge heard the widow, for her importunities ſake: So when God puts this importunity into the heart, it is a ſign God means then to hear and anſwer.
3. After prayer: This will appear in ſeveral particulars; as—
1. When God quiets and calms the heart after prayer, by ſpeaking ſomething to the heart, though what is ſpoken be not always diſcerned; as when you ſee an earneſt or importunate ſuitor going in to a great man, exceeding anxious, but coming out very chearful, contented, and quiet in ſpirit, you would conceive that certainly ſomething hath been ſaid to him, which gave him incouragement: So when thou goeſt to God, and haſt been importunate in a buſineſs, and thy deſires were exceedingly up for it, and then thou riſeſt up with thy minde, calmed and ſatisfied, and thou feelſt the anxiouſneſs, the ſolicitude of thy heart, about the thing taken off and diſpelled; this is a good ſign that God hath heard, and will return anſwer to the full: When Hanna out of much bitterneſs, and with ſtrong deſires, had poured her ſoul out unto the Lord, it is ſaid,1 Sam. 1.18. That ſhe looked no more ſad; And then God gave her a ſon, a ſon of her deſires.
2. When God gives an obedient, dependent heart, in walking before him, when that conſideration ſtill comes in as a curb unto ſin: If I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear me: Pſal. 66.18.When God doth ſtill after praying, keep the ſoul in a more obedient frame of ſpirit; when he keeps thee from uſing ill means, &c. it is a ſign that God hath heard thy prayers, and thou ſhalt have returns: David praying for his life, Hear my prayer, Pſal. 143.1.O Lord, give ear to my ſupplications; in thy faithfulneſs anſwer me, and in thy righteouſneſs:—Preſently after he prays for holineſs, knowing that ſin would enervate and ſpoil all his prayers; Cauſe me to know thy way, wherein I ſhould walk: 8.—Teach me to do thy will.10.
3. When God after prayer, ſtrengtheneth the heart to wait and expect for the mercy deſired; when a man after prayer, begins to wait rather then pray (though he prays ſtill) becauſe he looks now God ſhould perform; in this caſe, and at this time he may look for ſome good anſwer from God: David having prayed, ſays to his ſoul, Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, Pſal. 27.14.and he will ſtrengthen the heart: wait, I ſay, on the Lord.
SECT. 7. The ſecond Caſe: Suppoſe the thing I deſire ſhall not be anſwered, how may I aſſuredly know that God notwithſtanding doth hear my prayers?
VVE may reſolve this caſe, if 1. we obſerve theſe particulars:
1. Whether thy prayer was framed in a right maner? didſt thou not pray abſolutely for ſuch bleſſings, as were never abſolutely promiſed? if ſo, no wonder thy prayer is denied; or didſt thou pray conditionally (as Chriſt prayed, If it be poſſible, &c.) then thy prayer may be heard, and yet the things denyed; for otherwiſe Chriſt had not been heard, when yet the text ſays, He was heard in that he feared.Heb 5.7.
2. Whether there be not a reſervation in that denial, for ſome greater mercy, whereof that denial was the foundation? if we had many of our deſires, we ſhould be undone: If the childe had lived for which David ſo earneſtly prayed, he would but have been a living monument of his own ſhame; God therefore denyed his prayer, but after he gave him a Solomon.
3. Whether God doth not anſwer thee ſtill according to the ground of thy prayer? Now the ground and intent of thy prayer, is after Gods glory, the Churches good, thy own particular comfort; it may be God denies the particular mercy thou deſireſt, and yet he anſwers the ground of thy prayer, his glory ſhall be advanced, his Church preſerved, thy comfort made up (even for that prayer of thine) ſome other way.
4. Whether God yields not far to give thee ſatisfaction, as if he were tender of denying thee? So the Lord anſwered Abraham, Gen. 17.18, 20.when praying for Iſhmael, O let Iſhmael live in thy ſight! God went as far in anſwering his requeſt as might be, I have heard thee (ſaid God) and I have bleſſed him, and I will make him fruitful, and multiply him exceedingly, and he ſhall beget twelve Princes; but my covenant I will eſtabliſh with Iſaac.
5. What effects that denial hath upon thy heart? as—
1. Whether thy heart be inlarged to acknowledge God to be holy and righteous in his dealings with thee, and thine own unworthineſs the cauſe of his denying thee? I cry in the day time (ſaith David) but thou heareſt not:—Yet thou art holy, O thou that inhabiteſt the praiſes of Iſrael.Pſal. 22.2, 3.
2. Whether God fills thy heart with holy contentment in the denial?
3. Whether thou canſt be thankful to God out of faith, that God hath ordered all for the beſt, though he hath denyed thee?
4. Whether thy heart be not diſcouraged, but thou canſt pray ſtill, at leaſt for other things? it moves ingenuous natures to ſee men take repulſes and denials well, and ſo it moves God: Now if the caſe be thus, if upon obſervation thou canſt ſay, that thy prayers, though denyed, were conditional [if God will] that thou perceiveſt a reſervation in Gods denial, for ſome greater mercy; that God anſwered thee, at leaſt, according to the ground of thy prayers, that God yielded far to thee; as if he were loath to deny thy prayers; that thou feeleſt ſuch effects of denial upon thy heart, as theſe:—1. An inlargement, to acknowledge God holy and righteous. 2. An holy contentment in the denial. 3. A thankful heart. 4. An heart not diſcouraged howſoever. Surely then God hears, or God hath heard thy prayers, although the particular ſuits are not accompliſhed.
SECT. 8. The third Caſe: Suppoſe after prayer, I obſerve all I can, and can by no means diſcover, that either God will anſwer or hear my prayers, What ſhall I do then?
VVE may reſolve this caſe by laying open the duties appertaining to ſuch a ſoul: Canſt thou not diſcern Gods dealings? ſpy no returns of thy prayers? it is then thy duty—
1. To examine what is the cauſe; and if the fault be in our prayer, becauſe we did ask amiſs, Iam. 4.3.we muſt endeavor by Gods grace to amend; or if the fault be in our ſelves, becauſe we are impenitent, we muſt firſt repent, and then renew our prayers unto God.
2. To perſist and perſevere in our prayers, without fainting, Luke 18.1. Rom. 12.12.Continue inſtant in prayer, as Hanna, and David, and Daniel, and Bartimeus, and that importunate widow.
3. To expect the Lords leiſure:Pſal. 40.1. I waited patiently for the Lord (ſaith David) and he enclined unto me, and heard my cry.
4. To reſt in the good-will and pleaſure of God: Let him do what ſeemeth him good: Who can tell, but God in time may give thee a ſign of his good-will towards thee, and that he hath heard thy prayers? howſoever, it is the Lord that gives or denies, let him do what he pleaſe.
SECT. 9. The fourth Caſe: Suppoſe the thing I deſire is anſwered, how may I aſſuredly know it was by my prayers, and not out of common providence?
VVE may reſolve this caſe by giving theſe directions to the ſoul, whereby it may be inabled to diſcern when and how things prayed for, come in by prayer; As
1. From the maner of Gods performance: When God gives any thing in anſwer to prayers, he often diſcovers a more then ordinary hand of providence i… it: As
1. By bringing it to paſs through many difficulties: Thus Peter was delivered out of priſon at the prayers of the Church;Acts 12.6, 10. and we finde 1. He was ſleeping between two Soldiers, if they had wakened, he had been diſcovered. 2. He was in chains, but they fell off. 3. The Keepers ſtood before the door, but they minded him not. 4. When one watch is paſt, he paſſeth quietly through another. 5. When both thoſe were paſt, an iron gate flies open of its own accord: Now ſuch difficulties are there in many buſineſſes, which yet in the end are accompliſhed by prayer; iron chains fall off, iron gates, enemies hearts fly open of their own accord, and though not in that miraculous maner, by the means of an Angel, yet no leſs wonderful.
2. By facilitating all means, and cauſing them to conſpire to accompliſh the thing prayed for; thou haſt wind and tide, and a fair day, and all the way paved and plain before thee; there falls out a great conjunction and meeting of many circumſtances together to effect it, which had influence into it, wherefore if any one had been wanting, haply the thing had not been done: Thus when Iſrael went out of Egypt (which was the accompliſhment of their prayers,Exod. 2.23. their cry came up unto God (ſaith the Text) how were all things facilitated? the Egyptians that detained them, then came and intreated them to go out, Riſe up, Exod. 12.13.and get you forth amongſt my people, ſaid Pharaoh; Yea, they were urgent upon the people, that they might ſend them out of the Land; yea, They hired them to go out with their jewels of ſilver, 33.and jewels of gold, and raiment, 35.32.and Pharaoh parts himſelf lovingly and fairly with them, and deſires their prayers, Bleſs me alſo; yea, to ſhew there was no reſiſtance, the Text ſaith,Exod. 11.7. A dog did not move his tongue; the bruit creatures did not diſturb them, though at midnight, when theſe creatures uſe to be moſt obſtreperous through noiſes, eſpecially at Travellers.
3. By bringing it to paſs ſuddenly and unexpectedly; as the return of the captivity of Babylon, which was the concluſion of many prayers, was done in a trice; they were as men in a dream, Pſal. 126.1.they could ſcarce believe it was ſo, when it was done.
4. By doing above what was deſired, with addition of other mercies; ſo Solomon asked wiſdom, 1 Kings 3.12, 13.and God gave him more then he asked, Peace, Riches and Honor: When prayers are anſwered, uſually mercies come thick; the thing we prayed for, comes not alone.
5. By adding ſome ſpecial circumſtance, as a token of Gods ſpecial hand in it; ſuch a token as a man himſelf often takes notice of, yea, and others alſo often takes notice of it;Pſal. 86.17. Shew me a token for good (ſaith David) that others that hate me may ſee it, and be aſhamed: So when Abraham and Iſaac, and Abrahams ſervant, had prayed for a wife for Iſaac; ſee by what a token God ſhewed that he had heard their prayers; Rebekkah was the firſt that came out,Gen. 24 14. and if ſhe be the woman appointed for Iſaac (prays the ſervant) let her offer me drink, and my camels alſo, and thereby ſhall I know thou haſt ſhewed kindeneſs to my Maſter; and God gave him the token, and therefore the ſervant bowed at it, and worſhipped the Lord: 26.If we take notice of the ſign, it was ſuch as argued in her a kinde, courteous diſpoſition, which therefore (it may be) he ſingled out as a token of a meet wife, eſpecially to be looked at in the marriage choice.
2. From the time, wherein the thing prayed for is accompliſhed: God who doth all things in weight and meaſure, ſhews his wiſdom and love as much in the ſeaſon, as in giving the thing it ſelf: God conſidereth all times of thy life, and ſtill chooſeth the beſt and fitteſt to anſwer thy prayers in:Iſa 49 8. In an acceptable time have I heard thee (ſaith God) As—
1. It may be at the very time when thou art moſt inſtant and earneſt in prayer:Iſa. 65.24. Whiles they are yet ſpeaking (ſaith God) I will hear; a time cull'd out on purpoſe, that they might reſt aſſured it was an anſwer to their prayers.
2. At that time when thou haſt moſt need, and when thy heart is moſt fitted for mercy (l.) when thy heart is moſt ſubdued, and thy luſts mortified, for then thou art fitteſt to reliſh his goodneſs alone, and not to be drawn away with the carnal ſweetneſs that is in the thing;Pſal. 10.17. Thou wilt prepare thine heart, thou wilt cauſe thine ear to hear, thou wilt prepare thine heart in taking it off from the thing deſired, in making it quieted and contented with God in the thing, and then thou wilt hear] this is the fitteſt time.
3. From the effects upon thy heart that prayeſt: As —
1. If the thing granted by thy prayers, draw thy heart more near unto God: Things granted out of ordinary providence onelyonly, do increaſe our luſts, and are ſnares to us; but if thou findeſt Gods dealings with thee, to be a kindely motive to cauſe thee to mourn for ſin, and to be a reſtraint againſt ſin, it is a ſign it was a fruit of thy prayer:Pſal. 6.8. Away from me ye workers of iniquity (ſaith David) God hath heard the voyce of my weeping; or,
2. If thou findeſt Gods dealings with thee, to be a kindely motive, to cauſe thee to rejoyce in God, more then in the thing obtained, it is a ſign it was a fruit of thy prayer. Hanna bleſſing God for her childe,1 Sam. 2.1. My heart rejoyceth in the Lord, ſaith ſhe: She rejoyceth not ſo much in the gift, as in the giver, not ſo much in her childe, as in his favor that anſwered her prayer.
2. If the mercy obtained by thy prayer, inlarge thy heart with thankfulneſs: Self-love makes us more forward to pray, then to give thanks, for nature is all of the craving and taking hand; but where Grace is, there will be no eminent mercy gotten with much ſtrugling, but there will be a continual, particular thankful remembrance of it a long while after, with much inlargement: Great bleſſings won with prayer, are worn with thankfulneſs; ſuch a man will not ask new, but withal, he will give thanks for old: Thankfulneſs of all duties proceeds from pure Grace, therefore if thy ſpirit ſtirs thee to it, it is a ſign he made the prayer: See Hanna's ſong when ſhe had her deſire, 1 Sam. 2.1.
3. If the mercy gotten by thy prayer, doth incourage thee to go to God another time, to pray again more confidently and fervently, it is a ſign thou haſt gotten the former mercy that way:Pſal. 116.2. The Lord hath heard me (ſaith David) and I will call upon him as long as I live.
4. If the thing obtained by thy prayer, doth make thee careful to perform thy vows made in prayer:Pſa. 66.13, 14 I will pay thee my vows (ſaith David) which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath ſpoken, when I was in my trouble; and the reaſon follows, becauſe that verily God hath heard me, when I cryed to him; and ſo Eliphaz in Job, doth connect and hang theſe two together, Thou ſhalt make thy prayer to him, and he ſhall hear thee, Iob 22.27.and thou ſhalt pay thy vows.
5. If the thing granted by thy prayer, prove a real and ſtable mercy; if the curſe be taken out, and it have few thorns and vexations in it: When the bleſſing of God maketh rich, Prov. 10.22.he addeth no ſorrow with it: It may be the heart was put to ſome trouble in the deferring, but its recompenced by the more ſetled; conſtant, immixt ſweetneſs in the injoying.
6. If the mercy obtained brings with it aſſurance of Gods love, and an evidence of his favor: I need not make that a ſign, for when this comes with a mercy, it carries its own evidence; you will then know well enough that it is the fruit of prayer.
SECT. 10. The fifth Caſe: Suppoſe that others joyn with me in thoſe prayers now anſwered, how ſhould I know that my prayers had an hand in obtaining thoſe anſwers, as well as any others?
VVE may reſolve this caſe by theſe obſervations: As—
1. If thy heart did ſympathize and accord in the ſame holy affection with thoſe others in praying, then it is certain thy voyce hath helped to carry it:Mat. 18.19. If two of you ſhall agree on earth, (ſaith Chriſt) as touching any thing that they ſhall ask, it ſhall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven: If two of you ſhall agree (the word is foreign) q.d. if you harmonially agree to play the ſame tune (for prayers are muſick in Gods ears,Epheſ. 2.19. and ſo called melody to God) if you agree not onelyonly in the thing prayed for, but in your affections, for it is the affections that makes the conſort and melody: If the ſame holy affections were touch'd and ſtruck by Gods Spirit in thy heart, that was in others, then didſt thou help to make up the conſort, and without thee it had been imperfect; yea, without thee the thing might not have been done, for God ſometimes ſtands upon ſuch a number of voyces (as when he named ten perſons in Sodom) and ſo one voyce may caſt it.
2. If thy heart be filled with joy in the accompliſhment of what was prayed for, it is an evident argument that thy prayers did move the Lord to effect it, as well as the prayers of others. When good old Simeon ſaw his prayers anſwered in ſending the Meſſiah into the world, he was even willing to dye through joy, and thought he could never dye in a better time: Lord, now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace, Luke 2.29.according to thy word.
3. If the thing concern others, and thy heart be thankful for a bleſſing on others, prayed for by thee with others, it is a ſign thy prayers had ſome hand in it: Thus Paul prayed for the Theſſalonians, 2 Theſſ. 3.6, 7, 9.and when Timothy came, and brought him good tidings of their faith and charity, he was not onelyonly comforted, but in his raviſhment he cryes, What thanks can we render again to God for you?
4. If the thing concern thy ſelf which was prayed for by others, helping thee in their prayers, what cauſe haſt thou but to think it was granted for thy own prayers, and not for theirs onelyonly? It may be indeed that God heard thee the ſooner through the help of their prayers:Phil. 1.19. I know this ſhall turn to my ſalvation, through your prayers, ſaid Paul: but if God ſtirs up thy heart to pray for thy ſelf, as well as others pray for thee, then God that gave thee an heart to pray, hath heard thy prayers alſo, and hath had a reſpect to thee as well (if not more then) to others, becauſe it concerneth thy ſelf eſpecially, as being a more ſpecial mercy to thee then to others.
SECT. 11. The ſixth Caſe: Suppoſe I am aſſured upon former obſervation, that God hath heard and anſwered my prayers in their particulars, what muſt I do then?
VVE may reſolve this Caſe, by laying open the duties appertaining to ſuch a ſoul: Art thou now aſſured of anſwer and return of thy prayers, it is thy duty then—
1 To be thankful to God for his goodneſs:Pſal. 28.6. Bleſſed be the Lord (ſaith David) becauſe he hath heard the voyce of my ſupplications.
2. To love God the more, and to reſolve with confidence to call upon him ſo much the more: I love the Lord, Pſal. 116.1, 2.becauſe he hath heard the voyce of my ſupplication; becauſe he hath enclined his ear to me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
3. To have ſuch a deportment and demeanor ever after, as is ſuitable to ſuch who have commerce and intercourſe with God; as, To depart from ſin, to apply our hearts to obedience, Pſal. 6.8.and to pay all our vows: Away from me ye workers of iniquity, God hath heard the voyce of my weeping:—And I will pay thee my vows which my lips have uttered;—For God hath heard me.Pſal. 66.13, 14, 19.
SECT. 12. A Directory for Prayer.
I Promiſed in concluſion of this Chapter, to lay down a Directory, and a broken or interrupted Scripture-form of prayer: For the former, I ſhall draw this Scheame.
In Prayer, obſerve …e
The Preface to it, wch conſiſts of
a deſcription of God by his
Attributes.
Promiſes.
a craving of
Audience.
Acceptance.
The Parts of it,
Confeſſ…
Of ſin.
1. Of the ſin of o… f…rſt Parents.
2. Of O…inal pollution.
3. Of a…ual Tra… greſſion
In th…t, word, deed
before Converſion.
ſince Converſion.
Againſt
Light of Knowledge.
Checks of Con….
Lo…g … …nce of God.
Tend… M…cies.
… …ents.
…
Frequent Promiſes.
Multiplied Vows.
… age, ſex, conſtitution, relations, &c.
Se… …en, bo…om …uſ…, Ag… … Againſt … Goſpel of Chriſt; as
Our not …ſting after Chriſt
Ou… not relying on Chriſt.
Our grieving Gods Spirit.
Our continued impenitency.
In their aggravations by circumſtances of
The perſon againſt whom.
The number of them.
The time, place, maner, &c.
Of the judgement and condemnation we …ſerve for ſin.
Pe…
For our ſelves.
Apprecation for
Pardon of ſin, for his
Names ſake.
Promiſe ſake.
Mercies ſake.
Chriſts ſake.
Sealing of this pardon to our Conſciences.
Peace of Conſcience, and joy in the holy Ghoſt.
Juſtifying and lively faith.
Rep… unto life.
Saving knowledge.
Lo… to God, Saints, E…mies.
L…vely hope, a dent z…al, filial fear, &c.
Growth in grace.
Means conducing; as,
The Word preached.
The Sacraments.
The Sabbaths.
A bleſſing on our outward Calling.
Sanctifying of all afflictions to us or others.
Deprecation againſt
All evil; of ſin eſpecially.
The Devil, and all his aſſaults.
The World, and all its temptations.
Our own Fleſh, with all the luſts of it.
Our darling Corruptions, Dalilah ſins.
All judgments
National.
Perſonal
bodily
Diſeaſes.
Plagues.
ghoſtly
Terror of Conſcience.
Spiritual deſertions.
The ſting of death, and horror of the grave.
Thankſgiving for bleſſings
Spiritual
Election, with all the golden chain of Graces hanging thereon; us,
Redemption.
Vocation.
Juſtification.
Sanctification
Hope of glory
Word, Sacraments, Sabbaths, Ordinances, labors of the learned.
Power over ſin, Satan, our own ſelves.
Temporal
Creation.
Continual preſervation.
Life, health, peace, proſperity, plenty, &c.
Deliverance from judgements, National and Perſonal.
Victory over the Churches enemies.
For others.
All belonging to Gods election, though as yet uncalled, as
Jews.
Pagans, Infidels.
Prophane or ignorant Chriſtians.
Perſecutors themſelves.
All in the boſom of the Church
In forreign Countreys.
In our own Kingdom,
King.
Queen.
Seed Royal.
Parliament.
Synod of Divines.
Nobility.
Magiſtracy.
Miniſtery.
Gentry, Commonalty.
Friends, Enemies.
All afflicted in
Soul.
Body.
SECT. 13.
§. 1. A form of prayer in Scripture-phraſe.
IN this form obſerve,—
1. A deſcription of God.
O God, the God of the ſpirits of all fleſh.Num. 16.22.—
Who haſt created the heavens, and ſtretched them out,Iſa. 42.5. who hast ſpread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it, who giveſt breath unto the people upon it, and ſpirit to them that walk therein: See Nehem. 1.5. Iſa. 37.16. Jer. 23.24. Dan. 9.4. Pſal. 65.2. 1 Tim. 1.17. & 6.16, &c.
2. A begging of Audience.
Look down from heaven thy holy habitation:Deut. 26.15. 1 Kings 8.28—
Have thou reſpect unto the prayer of thy ſervants, to hearken to the cry, and to the prayer which thy ſervants pray before thee:— See Nehem. 1.6. Pſal. 102.1, 2. Iſa. 37.17. Dan. 9.17, &c.
3. A confeſſion of the ſins of our firſt Parents.
We confeſs, O Lord,Gen. 1.26. and 3.6. thou createdſt our firſt parents in thine own image, but the Serpent beguiled them, and they did eat of the forbidden fruit:—See Rom. 5.12.
4. Confeſſion of Original pollution.
We are riſen up in our fathers stead,Num. 32.14. an increaſe of ſinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the Lord towards us:— See Pſal. 51.5. Rom. 7.14, 23. Lam. 5.7. Ezek. 16.4, 6, &c.
5. A confeſſion of actual tranſgreſſions in thought, word, deed.
The words of our mouth are iniquity and deceit:Pſal. 36.3. and 64.3. Gen. 20.9.—
We have whet our tongues like ſwords, and have bent our bows to ſhoot out arrows, even bitter words.—
We have done deeds unto thee, that ought not to be done:—See Gen. 6.5. Iſa. 6.5. Dan. 9.5. Mat. 12.36. and 15.19. Tit. 3.3. Ezek. 16.8, 15, 23, 25, &c.
6. Acted againſt light of knowledge.
We have truſted in our wickedneſs, we have ſaid,Iſa. 47.10. None ſeeth us; our wiſdom and our knowledge hath perverted us:—See Neh. 9.14, 16. Iſa. 47.10. Jer. 6.16. Rom. 1.22. and 2.18. Tit. 1.16, &c.
7. Againſt checks of Conſcience.
Rom 2.15.Our very Conſciences have born witneſs, and our thoughts in the mean while have accuſed us:—See Rom. 7.15, 18, 19, &c.
8. Againſt long forbearance of God.
Neh 9.30.Many a year haſt thou forborn us, and teſtified againſt us by thy Spirit in thy prophets, yet would we not give ear:—See Eccles. 8.11. Rom. 2.4, &c.
9. Againſt tender mercies.
Pſal. 23.6.Surely Lord, thy goodneſs and mercy have followed us all the days of our life—
Ionah 2.8.But we have obſerved lying vanities, and forſaken our own mercy:—See Deut. 32.15. Neh. 9.25, 26, 27, 28. Pſal. 106.43. Iſa. 63.9, 10, &c.
10. Againſt terrifying judgements.
Pſal. 76.8.Thou haſt cauſed judgement to be heard from heaven:—
Iſa. 66 2.But we have not trembled at thy word:—See Deut. 29.19. Pſal. 78.31, 32. Jer. 5.3, 5. Rom. 2.5, &c.
11. Againſt frequent Purpoſes, Promiſes, Vows of better Obedience.
Neh. 5.12. Eccles 5 4. Deut. 29.21.We have not done according to our promiſe,—Nor payed that which we have vowed;—Nay Lord, they have been ſin unto us:— See Deut. 29.25. 1 Kings 19.10. Pſal. 78.10, 37. Jermiah 2.20.
12. Sins of our Age, Sex, Conſtitution, Relation and Calling.
Prov. 22.15.We have found by experience, that fooliſhneſs is bound in the heart of a childe:—
Pſal. 25.7.O remember not the ſins of our youth:—See Gen. 42.21. Neh. 9.34, 35, &c.
13. Secret and open ſins, our moſt beloved luſts.
Pſal. 10.8. 2 Sam. 12.11.We have ſitten in the lurking places of the villages, in the ſecret places have we murthered the innocent, our eyes are privily ſet againſt the poor;—Nay, we have ſinned openly in the ſight of the ſun; we have ſinned without ſhame:—
Mat. 5.29, 30.We lodge within us many boſom luſts, right hands, and right eyes, and we are loath to cut them off, or pluck them out:—See Pſal. 19.12. and 90.8. Jer. 6.15. Iſa. 3.9. Mat. 19.22, &c.
14. Sins againſt the Law of God.
Numb. 15 22We have erred, and not obſerved all theſe Commandments, which the Lord hath ſpoken:—See Nehem. 1.7. Ezra 9.10. Rom. 7.15, 19, 20, &c.
15. Sins againſt the Goſpel of Chriſt.
We have not obeyed the Goſpel;—How then ſhould we eſcape,Rom. 10.16. Heb. 2.3. if we neglect ſo great Salvation: See 1 Pet. 4.17, &c.
16. Our not thirſting after Chriſt.
Our ſouls break not for the longings that they ſhould have unto Chriſt at all times:—See Pſal. 42.1, &c.Pſal. 119.20.
17. Our not relying on Chriſt his merits and promiſes.
We have relyed on the King of Syria (outward helps and means) and not on the Lord: See Heb. 3.12, 13.2 Chro. 16.7.
18. Our grieving Gods Spirit.
We have grieved thy holy Spirit,Eph. 4.30. Iude 4. and turned the graces of God into laſciviouſneſs:—See Mark 3.5. Heb. 3.10, 17. Geneſis 6.6, &c.
19. Our continual impenitency, notwithſtanding all means of Grace.
We have deſpiſed the pleaſant Land,Pſal. 106.24, 25. we have not believed thy word, but murmured in our tents, and hearkned not unto the voyce of the Lord:—See Iſaiah 1.6. and 5.4. and 28.13.
20. Aggravations of ſin by the perſon againſt whom.
Againſt thee, thee onelyonly, have I ſinned,Pſal. 51.4. and done this evil in thy ſight: See Numb. 21.7. Heb. 6.6. Heb. 10.29, &c.
21. By the number of them, time, place, &c.
Innumerable evils have compaſſed us about;Pſal. 40.12.—They are m…e then the hairs of our head:—See Pſal. 38.4. Ezra 9.6. Job 9.3. Ifa. 26.10, &c.
22. An accuſing, judging, and condemning our ſelves.
Shouldſt thou whet thy glittering ſword,Deut. 32.41, 42. and thy hand take hold on judgement,—Thou mighteſt make thy arrows drunk with blood, and thy ſword might devour fleſh from the beginning of revenges: See Dan. 9.7, 8, 9. Neh. 9 33. Lam. 5.16. Iſa. 28.17. Jer. 5.9.— 50.15, 25. Ezek 5.15.—14.8.—15.7.23, 33.—25.17. Rev. 4.5, &c. Thus for Confeſſion.
§. 2. The 2d part of prayer is, Petition for
our ſelves.
others.
1. We petition for pardon of ſin.
Exod. 34.9.LOrd, pardon our iniquities, and our ſins, and take us for thine inheritance: See 2 Sam. 24.10. Neh. 4.5. Pſal. 119.132. Iſa. 1.18. Iſa. 44.2, &c.
For his holy Names ſake.
Ezek. 20 9.Do it Lord, for thy names ſake:—See Ezek. 14.22. and 20.44. Pſal. 25.11, &c.
For his Promiſe ſake. Ier. 50.20.Thou haſt ſaid, In thoſe days, and in that time, the iniquity of Iſrael ſhall be ſought for, and there ſhall be none; and the ſins of Judah, and they ſhall not be found, for I will pardon them whom I reſerve:—See Neh. 9.17. Iſa. 55.7. Jer. 5.1. and 33.8. and 50.20. Mic. 7.18.
For his Mercies ſake. Pſal. 31.16.Make thy face to ſhine upon thy ſervants; O ſave us for thy mercies ſake:—See Pſal. 25.7. Pſal. 79.8, &c.
For Chriſts ſake. Eph. 4.32.O that God for Chriſts ſake would forgive us our ſins:—See John 1.29 Pſal. 51.7. Iſa. 55.7. Jer. 33.20, &c.
2. For ſealing of this pardon in our Conſciences.
Pſal. 50.23.Shew us the ſalvation of God: — See 2 Cor. 1.22. Exod. 14.13. and 33.13, 18. Pſal. 35.3, &c.
3. For Peace of Conſcience, and joy in the holy Ghoſt.
Rom. 14.17. 1 Pet. 3.21.Give us joy in the holy Ghoſt:—And the anſwer of a good Conſcience towards God:—See Pſal. 51.8, 11, 12. Rom. 8.15, 16, &c.
4. For juſtifying and lively faith.
Eph. 2 8.Give us ever that gift of God, a ſoul-ſaving and juſtifying faith: See Epheſ. 6.16. Phil. 3.9. Tit. 1.1. Heb. 11.1. Mat. 6.39.— 7.20, &c.
5. For repentance unto life.
Ezek. 14.6.Give us to repent, and to turn our ſelves from our idols:—See Pſal 6.6. Ezek. 36.25, 26, 27. Mat. 11.21. Acts 11.18. 2 Cor. 7.10. Rev. 2.21, &c.
6. For ſaving knowledge.
Give us the Spirit of truth, who will guide us in all truth:Iohn 16.13. Prov. 2.2, 3, 5.—
Incline our ears to wiſdom, and our hearts to underſtanding, that we may underſtand the fear of the Lord, and finde the knowledge of God, that we may be enabled to cry unto thee our God, We know thee:—See Hab. 2.14. Eph. 1.17, 18. Pſal. 25.14. 1 John 2.20. Epheſ. 3.17, 18, 19.
7. For love to God, Saints, Enemies.
Thou haſt ſaid, Thou wilt circumciſe our hearts,Deut. 30 6. Iohn 13.34. Mat. 5.44. and the hearts of our ſeed, to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, and with all our ſoul:—Give us alſo to love one another, as Chriſt hath loved us:—Cauſe us to love our very enemies, to bleſs them that curſe us:—Luke 7.47. Epheſ. 3.17, 18, 19. Phil. 1.9, &c.
8. For lively Hope, ardent Zeal, filial Fear, Patience, Perſeverance, &c.
Give us to ſet our hope in God,Pſal. 78.7. Rom 12.11. 2 Chro. 19.7. Heb. 12.1, 2, 3. and 10.23.—to be zealouſly affected always in every good thing:—Let the fear of the Lord be upon us;— Make us run with patience the race that is ſet before us, looking unto Jeſus the author and finiſher of our faith:—Help us to hold faſt the profeſſion of our faith without wavering:—See Prov. 14.32. Pſal. 146.5. John 2.17. 2 Cor. 9.2. 1 Pet. 4.12, 13. Rom. 8.18. Phil. 1.29. Prov. 37.23, 24. Iſa. 46.4. Pſal. 48.14, &c.
9. For growth in Grace.
Guide us continually, and ſatisfie our ſouls in drought: O make fat our bones, that we may be like a watred garden, and like a ſpring of water, whoſe waters fail not: See Mal. 4.2. Prov. 4.18. Hoſea 14.5, 6. Iſa. 44.3, 4, &c.Iſa. 58.11.
10. For the means of Grace, as the Word, Sacraments, Sabbaths.
Let the word of God grow mightily and prevail:Acts 19.20. Lev. 19.30.—Teach us to keep thy Sabbaths, and to reverence thy Sanctuary:—See Pſal. 19.7. Prov. 20.12. Iſa. 55.10, 11. and 50.4. and 53.10. Pſal. 36.8. Iſa. 26.8. Heb. 4.12, &c.
11. For a bleſſing on our outward callings.
Eſtabliſh thou the work of our hands upon us; yea,Pſal 90.17. Iob 10 15. the work of our hands eſtabliſh thou it:—See Gen. 28.20, 21. 1 Chron. 4.10. Neh. 1.11. Pſal. 91.11, 12. Jer. 10.23, &c.
12. For ſanctifying of all afflictions to us.
O Lord, ſee our afflictions,Iob 10.15.—and let our tribulations workout patience,Rom. 5.3, 4. and patience experience, and experience hope: See Pſal. 68.20. Zech. 2.5. Heb. 12.20. Jer. 46.28. 1 Cor. 10.13. Iſa. 27.9. 2 Cor. 4.16, &c.
13. Againſt all evil of ſin, the Devil, World, Fleſh, our ſpecial ſins.
Mat. 6 13. Eph. 6 11. Mat. 16.26. Cor. 7.1.O Lord, deliver us from evil,—from all the wiles of the Devil,— from the worlds allurements; for what will it profit us to gain the whole world, and to loſe our ſouls?—from all the filthineſs of the fleſh,—eſpecially from our darling luſts: See Rom. 6.11, 12, 22. 2 Cor. 10.5. 1 John 5.18. John 16.33. 1 John 5.4. Rom. 8.8. Pſal. 13.1, 2, &c.
14. Againſt all evil of puniſhment
National.
Perſonal.
Pſal. 76.5. 2 Chro 7.14. Pſal. 91.10. and 6 3.Thou haſt plagued our Nation; The ſtout-hearted are ſpoiled, they have ſlept their ſleep, and none of the men of might have found their hands:—O heal the Land;—Let no evil befall us, neither let any plague come nigh our dwellings:—Our ſouls are among Lyons, our ſoul alſo is ſore vexed, but thou, O Lord, how long? See Pſal. 57.3. and 6.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. and 25.16, 17, 18. Mat. 26.39.
15. For all that belong to Gods election, though uncalled as yet.
Iſa 33.20.Look upon Zion the City of our ſolemnities.—Call home the Jews; thou haſt revealed that they ſhall be graffed in again, and thou art able to graff them in again:Rom. 11.23.—Bring in the Gentiles; thou had ſaid, I will lift up my hands to the Gentiles, and ſet up my ſtandard to the people,Iſa. 49.22. and they ſhall bring their ſons in their arms, and their daughters ſhall be carried upon their ſhoulders:—Convert prophane and ignorant Chriſtians,Ezek. 34.11. Iohn 10.16. ſearch thy ſheep, and ſeek them out,— that there may be one fold, and one ſhepherd:—See Iſa. 49.16, 17. A… 1.—5.15. Ezek. 34.12, 13. Iſaiah 2.2. and 60.3, 5, 8. and 54.1, 2. and 60.18, 19, &c.
16. For thoſe called in forreign Countreys.
Iſa. 51.9.Awake, …wake, put on ſtrength, O arm of the Lord; awake as in the ancient days, in the generations of old:—Jer. 12.9, 10, 11. Pſal. 17.7, 8, &c.
17. For our own Churches.
Iſa. 63.15, 16.Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holineſs, and of thy glory; where is thy zeal and thy ſtrength, the ſounding of thy bowels, and of thy mercy towards us?—See Jer. 14. 19, 20, 21. Daniel 9.19. Jer. 12.7. Amos 9.11, 12. Mic. 2.12. Pſal. 5.12, &c.
18. For our King, Queen, Seed-royal.
Let thy mercy and truth preſerve our King,Prov. 20.28. and let his throne be holden up with mercy:—See Pſal. 72.1. Prov. 22.6. 2 Sam. 25.19. Pſal. 89.29.
19. For Magiſtracy, Miniſtery, People.
Set godly Magiſtrates and Judges amongst us,Col. 1.25, 26. which may judge according to the Laws:—Give the Miniſters fully to preach the word of God, even the myſtery which hath been hid from ages, and from generations, but now is made manifeſt to thy Saints:—Bleſs all from Dan to Beerſhebah,Iſa. 62.12. call them thy holy people, the Redeemed of the Lord: — See Proverbs 11.14. Iſaiah 11.2. 2 Chron. 23.20. Pſalm 105.22. Amos 5.24. & 6.12. Iſaiah 53.10. 2 Samuel 17.11. Eccles. 12.10, 11. Iſaiah 62.6, 7, &c.
20. For all afflicted in ſoul or body.
Give power to the faint, and to them that have no might:Iſa. 40.29, 31.— Let them wait on thee, and renew their ſtrength, and mount up with wings as Eagles:—See Iſaiah 40.29. Pſalm 41.31. — 68.20. — 79.11. Iſaiah 30.26, &c. Thus far Petition.
§. 3. The third part of Prayer, is Thankſgiving for bleſsings
Spiritual.
Temporal.
1. VVE bleſs God for our election, with all the golden chain of Graces hanging on it.
We give thanks to God,C…l. 1.3. Rom. 11.…8. and the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, whereby we are beloved for the Fathers ſake, and for that golden chain of Graces hanging thereon, having predeſtinated us to the adoption of Children, by Jeſus Chriſt to himſelf, according to the good pleaſure of his will;Eph 1.5. and 1.6, 7. — Having accepted us in the beloved, in whom we have redemption through his blood;— Having given us the forgiveneſs of our ſins, according to the riches of his grace;Epheſ. 2.1. — Having quickned us who were dead in trespaſſes and ſins: — Walking in times paſt according to the courſe of this world, according to the Prince of the power of the air, the ſpirit that now worketh in the children of diſobedience:2.— But God who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in ſins, hath quickned us together with Chriſt:4,—And hath raiſed us up together, and made us ſit together in heavenly places in Christ Jeſus,5, 6,—That in ages to come he might ſhew the exceeding riches of his grace unto us:—See Col. 1.12, 21. Rom. 11.7, 28. 1 Theſ. 1.4. 7.Rom. 8.15, 23. Gal. 4.5. Epheſ. 1.5. Pſal. 111.9.— 130.7. Rom. 3.24. Heb. 9.12, 15. Col. 1.14. Rom. 4.7. Eph. 4.32. 1 John 2.12, &c.
2. We bleſs God for his Word, Sacraments, Sabbaths, labors of the learned, &c.
Pſal. 147.19, 20. 1. Cor. 1.21.Thou haſt ſhewed thy word unto Jacob, thy ſtatutes and thy judgements unto Iſrael: Thou haſt not dealt ſo with all nations, and as for thy judgements, they have not known them:—Thou hast been pleaſed by the fooliſhneſs of preaching, to ſave them that believe, by preaching at the firſt or ſecond rebound, by lively voyce, or printed Sermons:—See Acts 2.41. Tit. 1.3. 1 Pet. 1.25. Jer. 15.16. Ezek. 20.46.—21.2. 2 Cor. 5.19. Phil. 2.16. Col. 1.5. 2 Pet. 1.19. &c.
3. We bleſs God for any power over ſin, Satan, or our own corruptions.
Eph. 6.10.We acknowledge, Lord, to thy glory, that all our ſtrength is in thee, and in the power of thy might: See Hoſea 10.8. — 12.8. Rom. 5.20. and 6.6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Acts 26.18. Rom. 16.20, &c.
4. We bleſs God for our creation, preſervation, life, health, peace, deliverance, victories.
Gen. 1.27. Pſal. 40.11. and 103.4. Ier. 30.17. Pſal. 122.7. Prov. 30.8. Iſa. 54.7. Exod. 15.2.We bleſs thee for our creation after thine own image;—for our preſervation, by thy loving kindeneſs and truth;—for our life once and again redeemed from destruction;—for our health once again reſtored;—for our liberty, prosperity, peace in our walls and pallaces;—for our food and raiment convenient for us;—for deliverance from judgements national and perſonal, for a little moment didſt thou forſake us, but with great mercies haſt thou gathered us:Iudges 5.12.—For all the victories over thine and thy Churches enemies, well may we ſing, The Lord is our ſtrength and our ſong, and he is become our ſalvation; he is our God, and we will prepare him an habitation, our fathers God, and we will exalt him:—Awake, awake, O my ſoul, awake, awake,1 Chro. 16.8, 9.10, 31, 34, 36. utter a ſong:—Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people; ſing unto him, ſing pſalms unto him, and talk of all his wondrous works; glory in his name, let the heart of them rejoyce that ſeek the Lord:—Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoyce, and let men ſay among the nations, The Lord reigneth: O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever:—Bleſſed be the Lord God of Iſrael for ever and ever, and let all the people ſay Amen, praiſed be God: See Pſal. 22.9, 10.—71.14, 15, &c. Iſa. 12.1, 2.—42.10, 11, 12.—44.26, 27, &c. Thus much of Prayer.