A Treatise of Prayer and Divine Providence, Title page – Table of contents
A TREATISE OF PRAYER: AND Of Divine Providence as relating to it.
With an Application of the general Doctrine thereof unto the preſent time, and State of things in the Land, ſo far as PRAYER is concerned in them.
Written for the Inſtruction, Admonition, and comfort of thoſe that give themſelves unto Prayer, and ſtand in need of it in the ſaid reſpects.
By EDVVARD GEE, Miniſter of the Goſpel at Eccleston in Lancaſhire.
O Lord God of Hoſts, how long wilt thou be angry againſt the prayer of thy People? Pſal. 80.4.
LONDON, Printed by J. M. for Luke Fawn, and are to be ſold at his ſhop at the ſign of the Parrot in Pauls Church-yard. 1653
Imprimatur,
April 14. 1653. Edmund Calamy.
TO THE Chriſtian Reader.
THe many high Expectations, great Attempts, diſmaying Dangers, and heavy Sufferings of theſe Times, have been the occaſions and ſubjects of many and extraordinary Prayers: What the Conſequences of them have been hitherto, all do or may ſee, and ſome do ſeriouſly and ſadly lay to heart.
The multiplyed unhappy Variances which have broke out and gone on among us, whether ariſing from difference of Judgments, or from diverſity of private Intereſt (for from thoſe two Heads do they all, I think, derive their riſe) have ſet men buſily upon all ways and means of counter-working one another. Among all the means that have been layed hold on in thoſe mutual Conteſtations, Prayer hath been one which all parties have had recourſe to, and much employed. And no marvel, for where men uſe it aright, it is a taking hold on Almighty God, an engaging of him unto them, and to their Cauſe; it is a procuring of him to be their Coajutor or Patron; or a devolving of their whole matter into his hands: and where it is not uſed rightly, it yet ſtandeth people in ſome ſtead, in as much as in the ſight of men it putteth upon that way whereunto it is annexed the ſhew and promiſe both of Juſtice, and of hopefulneſs to prevail. So that among all the means to be taken up, it is like the Helm in the Ship, or like the Spring or Maſter-wheel in any curious Artifice, of chiefeſt place and ſervice. And being ſo, the more pity it is that either it ſhould be ſet on work to a wrong purpoſe, or, being well employed, ſhould meet with any let: the miſemployment of it is a high abuſe; and the miſcarrying of it is of ſad conſequence.
Doubtleſs this holy Engine of Prayer hath of late among us fallen under prejudice both theſe ways. That it hath been miſemployed by ſome parties in relation to their proper quarrels or deſigns; that it hath come ſhort of its end in relation to many publique concernments, there can be but few (I think) that will not confeſs.
Among the many Afflictions of the days, there are theſe two very croſs and ſorrowful Occurrences which have attended Prayer; Diſcord, and Diſappointment. Diſcord in the putting up of Prayers; there hath been in reference to many and great Affairs prayer againſt prayer. And Diſappointment in the event of Prayers; the Lord hath pleaſed in ſundry particulars to walk contrary to the earneſt, ſolemn and continued prayers of his people; either by denyal, or by delay. And who can ſufficiently lament? who can throughly explicate the Reaſons and Remedies of theſe evils? By the former, what ſcandal redoundeth to Religion? what obſtruction to Prayer it ſelf? for while we cannot agree upon things to be asked, how ſhould we expect that God ſhould accord in mercy to grant? By the latter, what perplexity, ſorrow and diſcouragement redoundeth to the people of God? And by both, what diſhonor redoundeth to the Name of God?
When the Caſe is thus, it will be acknowledged a ſpecially ſeaſonable and needful, a profitable and acceptable work to undertake the Vindication of Prayer from both, or either of thoſe Prejudices: only if there were an Undertaker, and a performance ſuitable to the undertaking.
The Redemption of Prayer from the latter of thoſe two Prejudices (that which ariſeth from diſappointment) is the drift of this Diſcourſe.
The Platform of Gods Ways in reſerving or hiding himſelf from the Prayers of his People which are of a right and regular frame; the Reaſons, and Remedies thereof; with Rules of Direction, and Comforts appertaining to ſuch a Caſe, and divers other Points incidental to a Subject of this nature, are here endeavored to be drawn forth of Scripture, and brought home to the preſent ſtate of the Church of God in theſe places.
A worthy Enterprize, you will ſay; but by whom taken up? and how managed? there is no place for commendation either of Author or Work. The former only deſireth, and will think himſelf well if he obtain, that his excuſe be accepted for his undertaking this weighty and high Task. The latter is ſubmitted to the free cenſure of the Reader without Apology; only with this precaution: If the meer uſefulneſs and gratefulneſs of the Subject, with a poſsibility that ſomething may be in it pertinent thereto, and to the drift propoſed, will not invite thee to peruſe, and prevail with thee to cover many imperfections in it, thou mayſt lay it down ere thou begin with it.
The Authors Apology for his undertaking ſhortly is: He hath took it in hand upon a ſpecial occaſion, and call (as he apprehendeth it) given him, which is related in the end of the Chapter. There are upon him (as ſome of his Chriſtian Brethren do know, and have ſometime put him in mind) certain ſpecial engagements to the prayers of the people of God (and to the God that heareth prayers) for divers notable benefits evidently received by means thereof. And, as he taketh occaſion hereby to acknowledg it, ſo he conceiveth it one of the ſuitableſt ways whereby he may make a return of his gratitude both to God and them for the ſame, if he might be (in the leaſt degree) a Helper of their joy, or ſatisfaction in and about their prayers. Further, when firſt he was moved to, and entertained the thought of this undertaking, he was under a reſtraint from the exerciſe of his ordinary publique employment; and therefore deſigned to improve his ſaid vacancy to an eſſay upon it. Moreover, he knoweth not of any other hand that hath taken up this Subject, which (if it had been) might have diſcharged him from it: the want whereof, as it hath made his work the more difficult, (he being to walk in an untrod path,) ſo he hopeeth it may help to extenuate his defects in it. Laſtly, he hath conſidered, that whereas this weighty Caſe is not (as he deemeth) duly minded, and layed to heart, his weak aſſail of it may excite Chriſtians to take more notice of it, and may alſo occaſion ſome ſufficienter hand to take up the diſquiſition of it. And being that in all Studies and handy-works there is a proceſs from imperfect beginnings unto perfection: In Studies a plain Alphabet goes before a perfect Skill: In manual workmanſhips there is a rough-caſt firſt, then an exact poliſhing: The Carpenter applieth to his timber, firſt his ruder tools, and then his Rule and Chiſel. So in this Subject, his unexpert handling may excuſably, and not without ſome ſervice, make a begining and ſtep to a more exquiſite treaty of this Subject. This is his Apology.
For the manner of handling the Subject, he hath labored to be plain, not only in ſtile, but in things ſpoken, by dealing home, and laying aſide all partial and ſervile reſpect of perſons; and particularly in the diſcovery of ſome of the Reaſons of the Caſe he hath to open: And this he hath done not without need and ſpecial warrant. When it was with Judah, as now it is with England, there was in them an approaching unto, ſeeking of God dayly, but without the expected ſucceſs,Iſai. 58.1. ſo that they came with that queſtion, Wherefore have we faſted, and thou ſeeſt not? wherefore have we afflicted our ſoul, and thou takeſt no knowledg? The Lord ſent his Prophet to them with this ſpecial charge; Cry aloud, ſpare not, lift up thy voyce like a Trumpet; and ſhew my people their tranſgreſſion, and the houſe of Jacob their ſin. If any prejudice or peril come thereby, he hath caſt it up, and commended it unto the care of him unto whom belong the iſſues from all dangers.
He hath in his intention dedicated it to the uſe of every praying Chriſtian that pleaſeth to look it over; but more peculiarly to thoſe of his proper charge (the Pariſhioners of Eccleſton Pariſh) and to thoſe of his acquaintance in the County wherein he liveth, and of any other place that call upon the Name of the Lord: And for that Reaſon, having an eye to ſo many at once, he hath omitted the particular Dedication of it.
Chriſtian Reader, for no other reſpect but for the Subjects ſake it prayeth (if thou wilt read) thy ſerious and religious peruſal; and let it have, withall, thy prayers for a bleſsing upon it; and therein alſo remember him, who is,
Thy Servant for Jeſus ſake, EDWARD GEE. Eccleſton, May 27. 1653.
The Titles of the ſeveral Chapters and Sections, expreſſing ſummarily the Contents of them.
CHAP. I. AN Introductory Diſcourſe. Pag. 1.
Sect. I. The Faithfuls Croſſes are their way to Bleſſings. Ibid.
Sect. II. The Perſecutions that befall the Faithful make many and notable Heart-diſcoveries. Pag. 4.
Sect. III. The Faithfuls Perſecutions cauſe Heart-diſcoveries in themſelves. Pag. 9.
Sect. IV. Some Reaſons wherefore the Perſecutions of the Faithful produce in them Heart-diſcoveries. Pag. 14.
Sect. V. The Subject and Occaſion of this Treatiſe. Pag. 41.
CHAP. II. The firſt Query handled, viz. Whether Gods hiding himſelf from his Peoples Prayers grounded upon his Promiſes, and ſeeming by his Providences to anſwer the Prayers which are contrary thereunto, can be parallel'd with any Examples? Pag. 46
Sect. I. The Queſtion affirmed, and divided into Parts. Ibid.
Sect. II. Examples of Gods hiding himſelf from his Peoples Prayers. Pag. 47
Sect. III. Examples of the Lords ſeeming by his Providences to anſwer the Prayers which are contrary to his Peoples. Pag. 78
Sect. IV. The Concluſion of this Chapter, ſhewing the good Ʋſe that may be made of the Examples fore-alledged. Pag. 95
CHAP. III. The ſecond Query handled, viz. How, or in what ſence God may be ſaid to hide himſelf from his Peoples Prayers grounded upon his Promiſes, and ſeem by his Providences to anſwer the Prayers which are contrary thereunto. Pag. 99
Sect. I. Of the People of God. Pag. 100
Sect. II. Of the groundedneſs of Prayers upon divine Promiſes. Pag. 103
Sect. III. Of Gods anſwering, and of his hiding himſelf from Prayers. Pag. 142
Sect. IV. The Anſwer to the Query ſummarily recollected, and formed. Pag. 187
CHAP. IV. The third Query diſcuſſed, viz. What may be the Reaſon of Gods hiding himſelf from his Peoples Prayers grounded upon his Promiſes, and of his ſeeming by his Providences to anſwer the Prayers which are contrary thereunto? Pag. 203
Sect. I. The difficulty of reſolving this Queſtion, and whence it is. Ibid.
Sect. II. Some Rules about the manner how this Queſtion is to be taken in hand. Pag. 219
Sect. III. A Conſideration of the means of receiving Reſolution in this Queſtion. Pag. 238
Sect. IV. The Queſtion divided into its parts; and the Cauſes of Gods hiding from Prayers diſtinguiſhed of. Pag. 253
Sect. V. Of the firſt ſort of Cauſes of Gods hiding from prayers. Pag. 261
Sect. VI. Of the latter ſort of Cauſes of Gods hiding from Prayers. Pag. 287
Sect. VII. The Application of both ſorts of Cauſes unto the preſent Caſe. Pag. 342
Sect. VIII. What may be the Reaſons of the Lords ſeeming by his Providences to anſwer the Prayers which are contrary to thoſe of his People. Pag. 431
CHAP. V. The fourth and laſt Query conſidered; viz. What uſe ſhould be made of this proceeding of God, to wit, his hiding himſelf from his Peoples Prayers grounded upon his Promiſes; and ſeeming by his Providences to anſwer the Prayers which are contrary thereunto? Pag. 439
Sect. I. Certain Errors to be ſhunned in caſe of the Lords hiding from his Peoples Prayers, and anſwering the contrary Prayers unto them. Pag. 440
Sect. II. The Graces or Duties to be exerciſed in the Caſe above-mentioned. Pag. 457
Sect. III. The way to Help or Remedy in this Caſe of the Lords hiding from his Peoples Prayers. Pag. 483