The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption, Treatise 2 · Chapter 50
CHAP. L. Three Duties preſſed on all Aſſured Saints. The firſt, to be much improving the ſupply of the Spirit in approaching to God frequently-Urged with eight Motives.
III. THis ſtirs up all who have the witneſſe of the Spirit, to three Duties.
(1) To be much in Prayer.
(1 Thoſe that have it not, are not to neglect it, nor are they excuſable for ſlighting it over, who walk in darkneſſe. Now, if they muſt drive on in this rode, who (becauſe the wheels of their Chariots are taken off,) muſt needs drive heavily: how are you bound who have wheels, and thoſe oyled too, that you may go on the more cheerfully?
(2. If God ſhould with-draw (what you neglect) the comfortable refreſhments of his Spirit, and make you howle after him under ſpiritual darkneſſe, in a wide and howling wilderneſſe of deſertions and temptations, you will find a difference between ſailing in a clear day and a calm ſea; and ſteering the ſame veſſel in a dark night and ſtormy ſea, when neither Sun, nor Moon, nor Star appeares to direct the courſe. And then you will wiſh you had uſed days of ſpiritual peace for maintaining Trade with God. Troubleſome times are bad times to trade in▪ The uncertainty of Adventures and returnes, muſt needs cool the Merchants endeavours.
(3 Others may, but you muſt prevail with God. I mean, the arrowes of prayer, which by ſouls in darkneſſe are ſhot at adventure are not altogether without hope of acceptance; but yours are beyond poſſibility of miſcarrying, and that not only in themſelves▪ but to you alſo, you being in the light of Gods countenance, are particularly aſſured, that whatever you ask according to his Word, he heareth you, 1 Joh. 5. 14, 15.
(4 Hopes to ſpeed are the wings of prayer. Aſſurance (as I before have ſhewed) will be maintained by prayer, and weakned by the neglect of it. Let a man be never ſo intimately acquainted with a friend, and never ſo certainly aſſured of his love, yet diſuſe of entercourſe will occaſion jealouſie and diſtruſt, or at leaſt ſhyneſſe and feare of being too bold with each other.
(5 You wrong many others. You are the Favourites of heaven; how many Petitions of poor dark Saints in corners, are put into your hands for diſpatch to the Throne of Grace? How many occaſions wherein you may ſerve the Church, come athwart you (as wee ſay) daily? And can you betray all theſe by your negligence of improving your intereſt at the Throne of God? No man may do more good, if he attend with diligence and watchfulneſſe, then an honeſt Favourite to an earthly Prince. You muſt not pray for your ſelves only, but for them that cannot pray too. You that are Gods Favourites may do much good if you beſtir your ſelves.
(6 Know this alſo, that God delights in the Muſick of your Prayers. Other men alwayes find matter of complaint, but you are more fitted for Sacrifices of praiſe. And he that offereth praiſe glorifieth God, and ſo 'tis no wonder if God delight moſt in ſuch a Petitioner. I muſt not be underſtood, as if God did not alſo delight in the ſaddeſt complaints of a troubled ſpirit, as they are offered up to him in a way of Petition. But yet ſurely, (I think I may ſay) God loves that Prayer moſt that moſt carries man out of himſelf to him, and praiſes of aſſured ſouls are ſuch giving Duties, (if I may ſo ſpeak) as do not only receive from God, but (in a ſort) beſtow upon him.
(7 Adde to this, that the very preſent comfort of communion with God (if there were no other advantage) to a gracious ſoul, were encouragement enough to Duty. How are the Saints of God wont to rejoyce, if God give them now and then a glance of his countenance? How, when they have not had communion with him for a while, do they complain, as if every day were a year, every year an Age? And is the refreſhment of that communion ſo ſlight unto thee, that thou canſt now paſſe many dayes, it may be weeks, without any ſenſible affection of grief and trouble, at the ſlenderneſſe of intercourſe between thy ſoul and him? eſpecially when 'tis not through his ſtrangeneſſe, but through thine own.
(8 Conſider what this liberty of approaching to God coſt Chriſt for thee. He laid down his deareſt bloud to bring thee ſo nigh▪ Epheſ. 2. 13. and Heb. 10. 20. He hath conſecrated a new and living way through the vail, i, e. his fleſh.