An Olive Branch Found After a Storm in the Northern Seas, Text
AN Olive Branch, found after a Storme in the Northern Seas.
2 THESS. 3.16.
Now the Lord of peace himſelfe give you peace alwayes, by all meanes.
IT is the happineſſe of the Church of God, that although they cannot give peace, yet they may get it: and although they cannot ſettle it on earth, they may ſeek it from heaven: and they have this of Gods own minde, for their incouragement; that he thinks thoughts of peace towards them, and to give them an expected end, Eſa. 29. ver. 11. and what is at any time moſt improbable to ſenſe is viſible to faith. And my preſent viſion is a ladder reaching from heaven to earth, and this ladder is Chriſt, by whom all our prayers have their paſſage to the Throne of grace: and their rich and faithfull returnes made from Gods Treaſury to ſupply all our wants. Which hath put me upon this deſigne in the travell of my ſoule, and I wiſh my words might have their paſſage through a river of teares, and every ſentence be ſwadled up in ſackcloth; and one, and all of us appeare on this ladder as vile as duſt and aſhes: that in his glorious intereſt we might in this ſeaſon be found prevailers with God for this ſweet mercy of Peace, in relation to Your Majeſty, and your three poore laſſerated, diſtracted Kingdomes: And as I have not valued my life, ſo will I never think much of my labour, although Pioneer-like to caſt in any matter as rubbiſh, and my ſelf as dirt and clay to make up theſe Nationall breaches.
And of all effective meanes I finde none more ſpeeding then prayer, Eſay 29.11,12,13. Then ſhall you call upon mee, and you ſhall goe and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you: and you ſhall ſeek me, and finde mee, when you ſhall ſearch for me with all your heart.
And if ever it were ſeaſonable, now, yea now is Gods time, now your time, now its our time, now its high time, now, or it may be at no time. Now then if ever: and now although never: now what ever you doe, nay, now what ever you leave undone, let all that have intereſt in God through Jeſus Chriſt, become importunate petitioners, and heartily pray, Now the very God of peace, give you, with him, with us, Peace, alwayes, by all moanes.
Thus hovering up and down upon the waters, I have at laſt made diſcovery of an Olive Branch; and what wee ſee by faith, the Lord aſſiſt us, as upon inſtruments in our ſeverall actings, to convey on the wing of prayer to the poore Ark, the Church of God,blown up and down by the tempeſtuous winds of Hereſie, and Malignancy, that it may at laſt have hopes to ſettle on mount Ararat: and be firmely eſtabliſhed as mount Zion.
And having this Olive branch in my mouth, give me leave to ſhew you the ſeverall ſprigs of it: which will yeeld fruite, to provoke our ſpirituall appetites; and ſuch oyle as will not onelyonly repleniſh our lamps, to light us to Chriſt, the Prince of Peace, but poſſeſſe us of ſuch inward injoyments as hence forward to walk with a cheerful countenance: as poſſeſſed with it.
This Olive branch hath two more eminent ſprigs:
The firſt is, Peace its opportunity, Now
The ſecond is Peace its gaining, in this ſeaſon: by importunity, by all meanes.
Or if you pleaſe to have it in ſmaller parcels, you have
Firſt, its ſeaſon to be prayed for, Now.
Secondly, the Donor, The Lord of peace give you Peace.
Thirdly, the Donum, Peace.
Fourthly, the Excellency of Gods peace above all other peace it is an alwayes peace, and an everlaſting peace.
Obſervation,
And now I hope you ſee that ſeaſonable and importunate prayer to God by Chriſt is a ſure way to obtaine a well-grounded and laſting, yea, an everlaſting Peace.
The learned can tell you that there is no bodily action betwixt hic & nunc: and therefore the acting this duty will admit of no delay. Now, that's the ſeaſon.
Quere, I but why ſuch haſte?
Sol. When I ſhall but tell you what peace is in the generall, and ſhew you the diſtinct members, you will be ſatisfyed; nay, not ſatisfyed without it.
In the generall, Peace is the well-being of all other injoyments; all other mercies ſuck their liveli-hood at the breſt of peace: It is the Mother of all proſperity, in relation to Arts, Sciences, Trades, all flouriſh or wither in peace her preſence or abſence. It is the Milchnurſe of Religion, it thrives not in diviſions nor contentions, Act. 12. When the Church had peace, it increaſed exceedingly, did you ever know a body with all the members out of joynt, thrive? when one is for Paul, another for Apollos, and a third for Cephas, few or none, more then formally, follow Jeſus Chriſt. It is but one word, but it is big-bellyed with many, many mercies, Peace crownes the years with goodneſſe, and her paths drop fatneſſe. It is, or ſhould be, the felicity of the Saints on earth, and the glory of the Angels in Heaven. The Jewes cuſtome was, when they wiſhed all happineſſe, they uſed onelyonly this expreſſion, Peace be with you.
There is ſomething in this to affect us towards it, that all our endevours, Councells, Examples may act to this end. I am ſure it was Davids practiſe to pray for peace for the Church: when he might have preferred his own eaſe, and Kingſhip, Pſal. 51.18. Be favourable to Zion, build up the walls of Jeruſalem, then ſhalt thou accept the ſacrifices of righteouſneſſe. q.d. he will accept of no ſervices in diviſions. Moſes practiſe was for this, Davids counſell, Pauls ſtudies were bent to remove diviſions, and ſettle order and peace in the Church of God, 2 Tim. 2.23,24. Avoyd fooliſh queſtions, the ſervants of the Lord muſt not ſtrive: Sathan is beſt known by his cloven foot: And the Pythagorians have ſet a note of infamy on the figure of two: becauſe it firſt parts from unity. To conclude in generall, as the life of old Jacob was laid up in the life of the lad Benjamin, ſo all our happineſſe is inmantled in this: Peace with our God, and with one another.
More Particularly, Peace is diſtinguiſhed by theſe three notions, Externall, Internall, Eternall.
It is of very large extent in Scripture.
Firſt, I finde it uſed to expreſſe the making up of that great breach betwixt God and Man, Chriſt reconciling us to God, is ſtiled our Peace-maker: For he is our peace Epheſ. 2.14. Who hath made both one, 15 having aboliſhed in his fleſh the enmity. Rom. 5.1. Being juſtified by faith, we have peace with God.
Secondly. For quietneſſe in conſcience which is a fruit of this peace. Rom. 14.17. when the commings of his ſmiling mercyes on the ſoule, when the ſtorme of our contracted guilt is over, and a ſweet calme in the Spirit that we may ſee his face.
Thirdly For mutuall concord betwixt man and man. Phil. 4.2,3. Forbearing one another in Love, Indeavouring to Keepe the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Pſal. 34.14. Depart from evill, doe good, ſeeke peace and purſue it. And had I time whilſt I am on this ſubject I could deſire to melt into teares, and preſent You with the ſad actings of theſe times, obvious to my owne experience.
Fourthly. For the preſence of all outward bleſſings and mercies to a people. Epheſ. 6.23. Peace be to the brethren. Which how farre from us we all know: and therefore full time to make towards them in the travels of our ſoules.
Fifthly, For the publicke tranquillitie and quiet eſtate of a Church when not troubled within, by blaſphemies, ſchiſmes, and hereſies, nor without by perſecuting enemies, Pſal. 122.6. O pray for the peace of Ieruſalem. Acts 9.31. Then had the Churches reſt (or peace) throughout all Iudea and Gallile and Samaria & were edefyed, walking in the feare of the Lord and comfort of the Holy Ghoſt, and were multiplyed.
Sixtly. For the Tranquillity of the State when free from forraigne and civill warre 2 Kings 20.19. ſaid good King Hezekiah is it not good if Peace and Truth be in my dayes; Ier. 9.7 ſeeke the peace of the City. &c.
Seaventhly. Security from alarms, all Armes, and dangerous effects of warre: In the peace thereof you ſhall have peace.
Eightly, For an happy union by way of Covenant before God betwixt the King and his people. 2 Chro. 15. And they entred into Covenant to ſeeke the Lord God of their Fathers with all their heart, and ſoule, and all Iudah rejoyced at the oath and he was found of them, and the Lord gave them peace round about, which the Lord perſwade your heart unto, this day, for Ieſus Chriſt ſake.
And thus have I ſhowne you the ſpriggs of this branch: and the pathway for a ſound peace and the extent of Peace in the duty of prayer in this opportunity.
Firſt▪ Now God be freinds with every one of you in …eſus Chriſt.
Secondly. The Lord give you peace in conſcience; a demonſtration of it, make your conſcience freinds with you.
Thirdly. make you friends one with another.
Fourthly. Multiply all bleſſings on you inward and out ward.
Fifthly ſend quieT in the Church.
Sixtly ſend quiet in the State and Kingdome from enemies.
Seaventhly. Send freedome from alarms and eaſe from taxes &c.
Eightly. A mutuall agreement and covenant betwixt King and people.
And thus have you the ſpriggs extended, I now come to the ſeaſon fore-goeing all; this preſcribed: Now you may review the Obſervation.
That ſeaſonable and importunate prayer to God through Chriſt is a ſure way to obtaine the gift of a firme ſetled and well grounded peace with God and man.
You are to know; I therefore adde ſeaſonable prayer, becauſe there are as well unſeaſonable, as unreaſonable prayers abroad in the world: it was the folly of the Virgins that they cryed Lord Lord open unto us ſo late: there is a ſeaſon wherein God gives this gift and there is a ſeaſon wherin he will not give it.
There is a time for every thing, but there is an end of that time: There is a time when God is neere, and a time when he is farre off. Eſay. 55 Omnia tempus habent, and as true in this ſeaſon omnis qui querit invenit, The Prophet preaching before King Manaſſes prayes him to ſeeke while he may be found, call whilſt he is neere, in ſome time if Moſes, Noah, Santuel, duplicate page duplicate page ſhould pray he will not grant. Oh that we had the art to hit this foreign this joynt of time, I pray conſider that place in Luke 19.41,42. If thou hadſt knowne, even thou at leaſt in this thy day, but now theſe things are hid from thine eyes. You cannot have roſes in winter, when the Angell moved the waters then was the nick of time to ſteppe in: elſe they might lye long enough for a healing: when the Lord ſaid ſeek my face, then King Davids ſoule Ecchoed Lord thy face doe I ſeeke. To miſſe a tyde or a winde, is to looſe a voyage; in the 2 Cant. The Church drouſily neglecting her ſeaſon in the 3 Chap. Seekes it night and day, but ver. 1,2. found him not, Stephanus is his apologie for Herodotus reports the practiſe of the warlike Scythian upon his tender of quarter aptly. Truly our ſeaſon and time of prayer for Peace is but like the Jewes feaſtes ſome laſted longer then others, yet none all the yeare. Sentences have their periods: I and ut ſententiae, ſic regna.
The old world had a ſeaſon of one hundred and twentie yeares, Iſraell in the Wilderneſſe but fortie yeares was hee grieved with that generation in Luke 13. but three yeares to the fig-tree under the Goſpell: ſo you ſee as meanes hath been more excellent; the ſeaſon hath been ſhorter. Not that it is in the power of man to ſhorten it, but in ſin to provoke God to doe it. Our ſeaſon hath pantings, and yet life in it, although not health, the Lord heare our prayers to recover it out of its fits of convulſion: Is there no Balme in Gilliad, that will doe it? 2 Chron. 7.14. If my people which are called by my name, ſhall humble themſelves, and pray, and ſeeke my face, and turne from their wicked wayes, Iwill forgive their ſin and heale their land.
1. Argument
The ſeaſon of Peace, and the ſeaſonable praying for Peace, hath been preſcribed, limited, and terminated to all that have gone before us, in relation to Perſons, Kings, or Kingdomes: Eſaus ſeaſon paſt, he could never get a returne of the bleſſing although ſought with teares: The Gadarens could never get Chriſt over their water more; Nor the Iewes a ſecond ſeaſon as yet to learne Chriſt, loe I goe to the Gentiles Eſa. 6. Oſea 3.4. I have forſaken my houſe, I have left my heritage: The Monarchy of the Babilonians and Syrians was transferred to the Medes and Perſians, The Macedonians to the Romans, The Empire of Conſtantinople to the Ottoman Familie: Joſhua tooke ten ſtones out of Jordan and put other ten in the roome of them.
Secondly, It is but juſt with God, if none find any want of this pretious Iewell, to ſhut up his cabinet, and ſee who will ſeeke after it: God alwayes ſubſtracts his mercies when they prove not uſefull to us, or wee ungratefull for them: God knowes as well how to take them from us, as tender them to us, Hoſea 2.3.9.
Thirdly, In relation to the Giver there can bee but a ſeaſon expected: It is the Mighty God King of Kings, unto whom all the Nations of the earth are but as a drop of a bucket, &c. It becomes not Majeſty to waite long upon the tender of their favours, the Lord will give inward peace, and outward peace; but he will ſeaſonably be ſought to for it: It is no diſhonour for the greateſt Monarch to attend his Majeſty, but unbecominghim to waite a moment, on the greateſt earthly Prince: David eſteemed it the height of his ambition to be a doore keeper, under-value not then; to be a receiver and in capacitie to enioy his favour,
Uſe of Exhortation
If this be ſo that wee have but a Now for it: I beſeech you ſupport your drooping ſoules, becauſe although neere yet is not our ſeaſon paſt, for yet wee heare of peace from the cryers of peace in publique: God hath not yet forbid us with Jeremiah not to cry peace unto you: cry for peace with mee.
Nay ſecondly, by a ſtrange kind of working on the heart, his meſſengers day and night ſeeke peace for the three Kingdomes and your Majeſty at the throne of grace, you are heartily preſented by many thouſands of religious conſcientious, holy, faithfull, Subjects in both Kingdoms for peace to your ſoul &c. nor hath the Lord ſtopt our mouths as Jeremiah's 11.14. as yet to ſay to us pray not &c.
Yea, Thirdly, the conditions of Peace, and the Lords Propoſitions to be reconciled to him, are by his faithfull meſſengers preſented and by many accepted of; the Lord incline your Majeſties heart to ſigne for ever, his and your Kingdomes good.
Yea, it is your peoples hopes that you will with the Sun of righteouſneſſe gloriouſly ariſe with healing and peace under your wings, to your three Kingdomes, all ſore wounded, and in blood. This doore of hope opened let all our ſeaſonable prayers be preſented for this bleſſing of Peace: ply this work heartily I beſeech you.
1. Motive, you have but a Now ſor it, much of the ſeaſon ſpent; a great journey and little time puts upon expedition and deſigne; Davids former experience of the miſery of warre puts him upon the deſigne of of Prayer for Peace: Pſal. 122. O pray, ſaith he, for the peace of Jeruſalem, and he plies it night and day, Finis operationis eſt opus.
2 Motive, There is yet Peace to be had for his people, and although with Joſeph, for a time, he hath ſpoken ruffely unto us, Gen. 45.1. yet I am conſident he yernes in his bowells to us; he cannot contain himſelfe longer, ere he reveale himſelf unto us; and although the Cup of affliction hath been for a time inour ſacks mouth, yet in the end it ſhall produce good, to us Iſa. 63.8,9. Hee will not caſt off his people; when they rebelled he was wrath, yet he ſaid, Surely they are my people, I am their Saviour: Wherefore I beſeech you as the dumb ſon of Croeſus when he ſaw his Father about to be ſlain, though never before brake ſilence, and cryed out violently, the ſtrings of his tongue being looſed, Kill not King Croeſus; ſo upon the viſion of the ſad actings of theſe times, breake ſilence and ſeaſonably, every one cry out, Now the Lord of Peace himſelf give you peace alwayes, by all meanes.
Thirdly, Becauſe we are all ſharers in the Church and Kingdomes peace, more or leſſe: every owner prayes and lookes after the ſafety of the ſhip, the Church of God is the ſhip, wherein our great joynt ſtock of Religion is imbarqued, and wee all beare a great adventure. It is at this day on a hazzardous voyage, many ſeeming friends by their colours, ready to betray it: and what betwixt the Rocks of ſuperſtition and Idolatry, and the quickſands of blaſphemy,ſchiſme, and hereſie, it ſteeres ſadly, we, nor our poſterity, cannot ſtand after the loſſe; it will be their undoing for ever: therefore now pray. Think it ſad to poyſon a pond, but a river much more: Oh think of your poſterity what truths ſtreamed to us in our Fathers blood, the Martyrs, let it run to our poſterity in ours, or tears: and let us proteſt againſt blaſphemy and errors: for jarring in Jeruſalem is a ſad and prodigeous Omen: when the worſhippers in Jeruſalem were divided, the common enemy prevailed, Jer. 7.28. This is a Nation that receiveth not diſcipline, truth is periſhed from them, clean gone out of their mouths: then read ver. 33. Then I will cauſe to ceaſe from the Cities of Judah and Jeruſalem, the voyce of mirth and gladneſſe, the land ſhall be deſolate. Jer. 8.19. The cry of the daughter of my people is great, for feare of them of a farre Country: Nay further, that you may ſee the neceſſity of ſeaſonable prayer, you may obſerve, our Saviour makes it a ſigne of the eternall ruine of the world, Mat. 24.1,2,3. They ſay, Maſter what ſigne wilt thou give us? Take heed none deceive you, for many ſhall come in my name, and deceive many. Many ſhall betray one another, hate one another, &c. See Deut. 28.47,48,49,50. The diviſions amongſt the Primitive Chriſtians in the Eaſtern Churches, gave the Turk an opportunity to make them his vaſſals: when the Divines of Bohemia, and Germany, fell to diſcord, it proved a ſad time, and when the Pelagians had made their faction ſtrong, they ſet the whole Kingdome in a combuſtion: The Lord give us deliverance from all factions and fractions from the truth of Jeſus Chriſt.
Fourthly it is an honourable deſigne, and ſuch become Chriſtians, it is noble to do good to one with the Samaritan; but to doe good to a nation; nay three nations, is Heroicall and well becomes Majeſty. Therefore now pray, yea excite all from Dan to Berſheba, and let it be your motion to ſet apart a day of faſting and prayer that no apple of contention may grow in our Paradiſe of God his Church. Every bleſſed action becommeth you; this is not onelyonly bleſſed in it ſelf, but makes you bleſſed: Beati pacifici is intailed upon you. Now as peace in Religion is the greateſt bleſſing to a Kingdome, ſo to beget or conſerve this peace makes a man moſt bleſſed in a Kingdome: and it is my ſoules deſire you may be yet bleſſed of God and of your faithfull people.
Fifth Motive.
Our relation, yea neere relation to the Church and State, it is of us, we of it: The hurt of it will be our hurt: the bloud ſhed in warre, our bloud, wounds our wounds. It is a ſad ſpectacle and moves much for a Captaine or Commander in Chiefe to ſee but a forlorne hope or a few ſcouts come off in bloud; but to ſee a field ſpread with dead bodyes like dung as of late times, a piercing calamity. For a tender mother to ſee, not a childe, but all her children ſicke, puts her to an extacy of griefe, and importunity to ſeeke remedy: and that is the ſecond ſprigge of this Olive Branch: viz. That ſeaſonable and importunate prayer to God, through Chriſt, is a ſure meanes to obtaine a firme laſting and well grounded peace.
And firſt I ſhould diſcover to you what I meane by importunity, and in a word, it is a prayer that willtake no nay of God; that if bare asking will not ſerve wee will ſeeke, if that doe not obtaine; we will be ſo bold as to knocke; that will not be put off with primitive ſilence, or poſitive denyal, or any contumelious reproach; knowing well, as I ſaid before, that Finis operationis eſt opus for Sions ſake will not hold his peace, nor for Ieruſalems ſake give God no reſt, till he make it the prayſe of the earth.
And truely we had ſped ſooner had we prayed better; not that prayer merits it, but it's Gods meanes to obtaine it.
There are ſeverall defects in prayer; and there are ſix, or ſeaven ſorts which will ſtand us in little ſtead.
Firſt, A Lazy prayer, God cannot away to have men reporters, when they ſhould bee Petitioners.
Secondly, Empty Prayers that are not full, for prayer is a powring out of the whole hearth to God. Pſal. 62.8. Now many powre out their wants, but not their ſins, men ſhould powre out their prayers like water not like Tar, the greateſt part ſticking behind.
Thirdly, Snatcht prayer, many give God a ragg of prayer, fitting your prayers to your buſineſſes, not a Kingdoms miſeries: or preſſing neceſſities, &c.
Fourthly, Silent prayers, neglecting that in our prayer which God lookes we ſhould inſiſt on, Pſ, 32. David is ſaid to roare for the diſquietneſſe of his heart & and yet was ſilent in relation to his blood-ſhed.
Fifthly, Seldome prayers, An Hypocrite can ſometimes pray, but a good Chriſtian prayes continually, Dan. 3.
Sixthly, Lukewarme prayers, Prayers that can never boyle out the ſcumme of ſin or take away therawneſſe of our fleſhly part, Quifrigide orat oupit negari, though you make many, Eſa. 7.
Seventhly, By-thoughted Prayers, like that unworthy Oratour, invocating heaven, looking to the Earth, but in this caſe doe as Abraham, Gen. 15.11. when the birds peck't his ſacrifice, hee huſht them away, ſo do thou, that thy prayers may prove an acceptable ſervice through Jeſus Chriſt.
Quere, Sir, pray what need ſo much importunity?
Sol. Firſt, in relation to Gods Majeſty, as in Ezekiel 36. from ver. 23. to ver. 27. The Lord ſhews his people in miſery, rich mercies, and full compenſations, that he hath in his hands, but yet read ver. 27. Thus ſaith the Lord God, I will yet for all this be inquired after by the houſe of Iſrael to doe it for them, &c.
We have an homely Proverb, It is an ill dogge that is not worth a whiſtle. We find little want of, and leſſe eſteem, that mercy we omit in prayer. Princes freely contribute their favours, but to Petitioners. And God is the King of Kings: and I am yet boy'd up with hope, having hitherto rid out this ſtorme, on a good ground, with the Sheare-Anchor of Faith, that God will by all our evills refine us, not ruine us; correct us, not deſtruct us; and bring us all a pretious and refined people, out of all our devouring flames, both gracious and glorious.
Secondly, in relation to mercy: mercy appears beſt when we blazen out our miſery: it is a diſgrace to mercy to come on the wing of lazie prayer, Herculii duri celebrant Labores: Samuel ſhall be dedicated to God, that is, obtained by prayer, and that mercy made much of, and hugg'd in the boſome, that is obtainedwith the paſſion of the heart.
Thirdly, In relation to our ſelves: we would ſoone ſlight mercy if eaſily granted, Eſa. 44.23. Soone gotten, ſoone forgotten: who prodigall away their eſtates ſooner then they that never ſwet to gaine a penny? Ier. 31.9. They ſhall come with weeping, and with ſupplications will I lead them: as a gentleman leads a begger: that penny that a man hath begg'd for all day, is not commonly idly ſpent away: ſo if your Majeſty and your three Kingdomes can but worke out their peace with God by prayer it will be the ſweeteſt mercy that ever lay upon the pallates of our ſoules: It will reliſh our ſpirits after all our bitter potions wee have taken to phyſicke us.
2 Quere Why are not men more importunate in prayer?
Sol. Becauſe moſt are Romaniſts in this point and eſteeme prayer a pennance, an irkeſome thing: Mal. 1.13. Behold you ſay what a wearineſſe it is? yee have ſnuffed at it ſaith the Lord. A man can never be found abounding in that is tedious to him to performe, wee muſt count prayer a bleſſing if ever we will do good on it. Bleſſings are highly prized: I beſeech you ſet a high price on this kinde of prayer.
2 Many are Formaliſts, and like the Peach, that hath a ragged ſtone under a ſmooth skin: ſo many, under faire and ſpecious ſhewes and pretences, have ſtrange ſelfe ends, ſinfull ends and much raggedneſſe of Spirit. Now if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not heare my prayer.
Thirdly, Men are gentlemen-beggers, they are loath to have the world know they want, or would bebeholding to any, ſtand often upon this punctilio of Honour till they ſtarve, ſo of old; have not we Abraham to our Father why ſhould we be beholding to this Carpenters ſonne? Men are loath to be beholding to God through Chriſt: and truely none are ſo miſerable as they that hide their miſery: now it is good to move pitty to ſpread our miſerable condition before the Lord, and if ever there were more miſerable viſions ſince mans fall then the evills of our times, I appeale, to urge God to heale and helpe us.
Fourthly, Men have ſtrang conceits of prayer: mean conceits of ſinne, a wrong conceit of God, and a baſe conceit of importunity, which I am inforced but to hint in relation to my time and this preſence.
3 Querie, Whither our prayers have beeue, or are prayers of Importunity?
Sol. If thou in the faſhion and Image of thy ſoule have the ſtampe of Ieſus Chriſt. It is in all petitioning a great matter who petitions: the Spirit of ſupplication is called the Spirit of Grace: Vnumquodque operatur ut eſt. The prayer of Moſes a man of God: mala conſcientia bene ſpirare non poteſt.
Secondly, It is the prayer of a pure conſcience: it was of old writ over the doore of the Temple, let no impure conſcience enter here: all ſuch petitioners were to weake to wing it above the clouds, their prayers might well beat the aire but never arive to Knocke at the throne of Grace: the activity and ſtrength of prayer, as grounded on Chriſts merits, ſtil runs ſtrongeſt in the channell of a good conſcience.
Thirdly, It is a prayer ful of reaſon, Iob 23.1,2,3,4. I will fill my mouth with arguments. A good Orator before God is a good Logitian: ſhew God reaſon either from himſelfe, in relation to his promiſes, or faithfullneſſe, or in Ieſus Chriſt &c.
4. It is a ſtout couragious prayer that will never give over but in victory, either with ſupply or ſupport: In Scripture it is called Wreſtling with God, it is ſuch a prayer as hath its affections rather inflamed then a bated by diſdaines and denyalls, Marke 7.24. It may in a holy ſenſe be called an impudent prayer, Luke 5.19. That man ſees ſuch neceſſity that being crowded out will come to Chriſt, or untile the houſe.
And thus have I given you the reaſons why we muſt pray for peace ſeaſonably, Secondly, why we muſt pray importunately, and what importunity in relation to prayer is in its imperfections; and perfection: I come now to ſhew you the fountaine from whom we muſt, by this prayer, fetch this great mercy of a ſafe and well grounded peace. It is from the God of peace, or Prince of peace: from God through Ieſus Chriſt: Note I pray. It is Jeſus Chriſt is the ſweet riſe of all our rich mercies; eſpecially of this of peace, Eſay 11.1. and Chap. 12. all thoſe mercyes in the 11 and 12 Chapter. which they were to injoy, flouriſh and ſpring forth of the root of Jeſſe: And indeed peace is not a mercy if it come not from this fountain: you may call meteors ſtars, but they are of a more viſcous ſubſtance that fire by an foreign in and out immediately: you, if ignorant may thinke a skinning over to be a cure but it will break out again. 2 Sam. 11 Amnon thought he injoyed proſperity when hee was feaſting, but then death was preſent. 2 Sam. 3.27. Abner thought all was peace when Ioab tooke him aſide & ſpake quietly to him, but then he ſmote him under the fifth rib that he dyed, For Aſabel his brother.
It is a ſweet thing when afflictions ariſe from Gods love, and lead us to Jeſus Chriſt for deliverance from them. There are varieties of mercies, and degrees of thoſe varieties: Chriſt is the firſt ſtep and the higheſt of thoſe degrees: and we ought not to be ſatisfied till we have them from the love of God in Chriſt. It was a great and rare viſion, Jacobs ladder. Every ſtep was a mercy above another, but that which raviſhed Jacob was, that they came from God by the way of Jeſus Chriſt the Ladder.
Firſt, in relation to Reallity of Peace in him, it is Yea and Amen, and an alwayes Peace. Other peaces are meere Spectrums, ſhaddows, apparitions, like Sodomes apples, appeare beautifull to the eye, touch it, it vaniſheth to duſt. Like a candle, gives light for a time, but goes out in a ſtinck. This is as a houſe built on a rock, others as on a foundation of ſand. I beſeech you now lay a good foundation on Gods Peace.
Secondly, in relation to the diſcovery of peace; there is no light but the light that …mes from the Sun of righteouſneſſe, by which we can ſee the excellency of it, as to deſire it, or to receive it, In his light we ſee light. If we ſee it not come ſtreaming in his blood, it is not a well-grounded Peace. It comes as from an enemy to an enemy. And as heaven it ſelf would not be heaven, if Chriſt were not preſent: ſo will Peace be no peace, if Chriſt be not the Originall of it. The glory of the Mount was Chriſts preſence.
Thirdly, we have no right or title to Peace, but by him. There was no mercy founded for us before Jeſus duplicate page duplicate page Chriſt. All that ſhare in it are uſurpers: now what is it to weare rich apperell and owe for it liable to arreſts every moment? and to injoy peace and to account for it to God for eternity?
Fourthly, If wee looke to the workings of mercy; for unleſſe we have them from this fountain, no mercy can be ſanctifyed unto us. Peace it ſelfe will harden, not ſoften: we ſhall abuſe it, not rightly uſe it: it fats us to wrath, not feeds us to perfection. Men may riſe from a ſick bed, and a bed of warre, but they cannot goe away and ſin no more: They cannot take up their couch and follow Chriſt: they may promiſe faire, but are not able to performe but upon this ground.
Fiftly, Hee made it his deſigne from all eternity to bee ſo; and all the accumulated excellencies and riches, that he received in the God-head of his father, hee layed out and expended to this very end; that hee might be the meanes to convey peace from God the father to us, for hee needed none for himſelfe.
Uſe of Exhortation.
To all in the practice of this duty of ſeaſonable and importunate prayer to deſigne by the activity of faith: Firſt to diſcover Jeſus Chriſt, look out for Chriſt as Mariners at Sea for a Land-mark to their Port: Where they are to lade Riches for a good Voyage: If you can ſee the Fountain, water is at hand. If you can ſee the Sun, there is light to guide you in the way: See Chriſt, Peace will come eaſily: you need not queſtion lower favours. God will never ſtick to give your Majeſty, or England Peace, if he give you the Prince of Peace, this is but as the Earneſt to the Bargaine: Settle, Chriſt in the three Kingdomes, and you ſettlePeace I'le warrant you, and all bleſſings needfull below him: This will make Goſpel, Peace, and Truth, Staple Commodities: But if Naomi goe out of the Country, Ruth will not ſtay behinde. If Chriſt aſcend in a Cloud, the Diſciples will be gazing upward, and reſtleſſe till they be with him. Riches, honour, &c. all are at his heeles, and there are that follow the Lamb where ever he goeth.
Uſe of Direction
Why are yee ſo dejected? why are your ſoules caſt down and diſquieted within you? what is it you want? in this juncture of time would any of you have peace? would you have it? ſeeke it ſeaſonably, and importunatly in the way of Jeſus Chriſt: I dare aſſure you your wants: if you can but get to this Joſeph, feare not in a famine thy ſacks filling: his love, (although diſquieted with frownes at preſent,) cannot ſend defiring hungery ſoules after peace empty away. Col. 1.19. Its Gods pleaſure wee ſhould come to this fountaine for them, they have taken up their abode there, nor can you ſhew mee in any time a ſeeking ſoule that ever loſt his labour, Hee ever affords us ſupplement or ſupportment. Hee may try us for a time but at laſt, with Joſeph, will long to manifeſt his love and ſelfe to us.
Doth your Majeſty want councell what to doe in caſes of difficulty? how to ſteere the great ſhip in this ſtorme? I direct you to him whoſe name is Counſellor. Doe you want pardoning mercy? in his fullneſſe is all you want. Doth any man want grace to carry him through temptations? why his grace is ſufficient for thee. Truely the defect is not in God, norin Jeſus Chriſt, goodneſſe, kindneſſe, but in our unfaithfullneſſe: That Hagar thirſted the fault was not in the well, but in her eyes that could not ſee it: There was no want in Gods aſſiſtance to his people, but the Prophets ſervants eyes, that could not ſee more with them, than againſt them. There was noe leſſe Love, Peace, Glory, Beauty, and Riches in Jeſus Chriſt when Saul perſecuted him, then when he preached him; but the ſcales were on his eyes.
Illuſt. As there is the ſame light and heate in the Sunne at all times, although dead men feele it not, nor blind men ſee not. So there is the ſame love in Chriſt to give us peace. Why then ſhould wee neglect ſo great ſalvation. I beſeech you follow after it with holineſſe, without which you cannot ſee God.
Firſt Motive
He doth not only permit us as Laban permitted Jacob to love faire Rachel, but commands us to ſeeke after him; call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you: you ſhall glorify mee, Aske, ſeeke, knock: If a child aske a father a fiſh will hee give him a Scorpion? nay hee expects, invites, intreates, &c.
Firſt Illuſtration
Yea: as the viſible Sun toucheth every thing with its lively heate, and as the common lover of that below, doth impart unto them requifite vigor to produce: ſo doth Jeſus Chriſt. I confeſſe of our ſelves wee can never attain to get peace: For naturally it is with us as with Ariſtotles reported bird called Apodes, whoſe legs are ſo ſhort they cannot uſe them, if once they light on the ground, they are not able to take flight, or to rayſe themſelves on their feete: but remainepuling and dying; unleſſe the power of ſome wind, with a favorable blaſt, beare them up; and then they make uſe of their wings. Wee are naturally like theſe birds in relation to our flight to Jeſus Chriſt for any mercy, till his ſpirit as wind act us to him.
Second Illuſtration
Then as the unhooded Hawke, having got her prey in view, doth ſuddenly launch her ſelfe upon the wing, and being held in her leach ſtruggles upon the hand with extream ardour. So faith, having drawn the vaile of ignorance, and got a diſcovery of the ſoveraigne good of peace, cannot be ſatisfied but in ſeeking after it in Chriſt: and as teares, were Davids practice ſo long as God ſeemed to bee abſent: ſo prayer is their dayly practiſe, their obedience ecchoing to Gods command, till they doe injoy this peace.
2 Motive, Becauſe if you practiſe ſeaſonable and importunate prayer this way; you may be ſure although you preſently have not a return of your prayer in the preſent injoyment of a ſetled peace; if you have it not, he will be with you in your trouble and afflictions as he was in the flaming buſh and with the three children in the furnace. They loſt nothing by it, they appeare moſt glorious in it: If the waters increaſe, the Arke and all in it get neerer heaven by it, there's all the inconvenience. Yea the time ſhall come that you ſhall ſay with David, It is good for mee that I was ſo afflicted; All this ſhall worke for the beſt, when once you are interreſſed in the Prince of Peace. Therefore now if ever, I beſeech you with the preſſing deſires of my ſoule to lay this ſure foundation of peace, through Jeſus Chriſt, with your God; and heartily, and joyfullyincline to ſpell out Gods owne meaning in all the actings of his providence, that ſhall as meanes be preſented to you from your great and faithfull Councellors, for the framing out and perfecting that glorious Architect that may make you as glorious to poſterity, as Solomon for building a houſe for his God, and may be a ſhelter for the people of God in your three Kingdomes; and the defence of you and your poſterity from the violent ſtormes of forraigne enemyes; which that you may with all cheerefulneſſe act, as an Emminent Inſtrument in this oportunity, Let us all with all importunity ſeeke God with humble and ſincere Spirits.
FINIS.
End of the text · Samuel Kem, An Olive Branch Found After a Storm in the Northern Seas (1647)