Christ the Perfect Pattern of a Christians Practice, Sermon 3
Mary Wolnoth, October the 8th, 1648. foreign.
Matth. 14. 23.
He went up into a Mountain apart to pray.
foreign.
IN this Chapter we have ſeveral things conſiderable, viz.
1. The Hiſtory or Narrative of John Baptiſts death, by the hand of Herod, verſ. 1. ad 13. wherein we have, 1. The occaſion of this Hiſtory, verſ. 1. 2. Herod hearing the report of the mighty acts of Chriſt, his Conſcience ſmites him preſently with thoughts, that this was certainly John Baptiſt, whom he had lately executed.
Note, Sins formerly committed, are oftentimes brought to ſad remembrance, upon the awaking of conſcience. Conſcience, though it be long ſilent, yet will ſpeak at laſt, and recoyl upon men for ſins, long ſince committed.
2. The Hiſtory it ſelf largely ſet down, verſ. 3. ad 13. wherein we have,
1. The ground of Herods oppoſition and perſecution, verſ. 4, 5. Herein is that of the Prophet fulfilled, Iſa. 29. 21. John Baptist ſtood between Herod and his luſt, this makes Herod incenſed againſt him.
2. The reaſon of the former forbearance of his execution, verſ. 5.
3. The proximate occaſion of his death, verſ. 6, 7, 8.
4. The manner of his death, verſ. 10, 11.
5. The care of his Diſciples, for his dead body, verſ. 12.
2. The miraculous feeding of 5000. men, beſides Women and Children, with a ſmall quantity of proviſion, verſ. 13. ad 22. He had healed their bodies, and now he feeds their bodies.
3. The great miracle of aſſwaging the tempeſtuous Sea, which had ſo much diſtreſſed his Diſciples, verſ. 2 2. ad 34. wherein we might obſerve many things.
4. The miraculous healing of divers diſeaſed perſons in the Land of Genneſaret, by the touch of his Garment, verſ. 34. ad finem.
The words which I have read, fall within the third general part. And they are a diſcovering of the employment of our Saviour, in the abſence of the multitudes of his Diſciples. He went up into a Mountain apart to pray.
In which we have two things.
1. The Act of Devotion, prayer.
2. The accommodation for this duty, He went up into a Mountain apart. Chriſt had ſeveral places of prayer, ſometimes a Mountain, ſometimes the deſert, &c. Any place is fit for prayer, if the heart be in frame, 1 Tim. 2. 8. Put them together, and this is the leſſon.
Doct. That our Lord Jeſus Christ was very frequent in the duty of private and ſolitary prayer.
He was frequent in publick prayer, and other publick Ordinances, witneſs his frequent reſorting to the Synagogues, Matth. 12. 9. Mar: 1. 21. inſomuch, that Luk. 4. 16. its ſaid, …at He went as his custom was, into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day. He did not neglect the publick; nor did he omit the private neither, as will appear by ſeveral Texts of Scripture beſides this, Mark 6. 46. where the ſame Hiſtory is related, Luk. 5. 16. when the ſame of his miracles began to be noyſed abroad, he withdrawes himſelf to private prayer, Luk. 6. 12. when he ordained his 12 Apoſtles, he ſpends the whole night before in private prayer. And before his paſſion, he was much in this duty, ſo all the Evangeliſts agree, Matth. 26. 36. 39. 42. 44. Luk. 22. 32. 44, 45. John 17. per totum. His life was a life of prayer.
In the proſecution of this Doctrine, I ſhall,
1. Shew why Chriſt prayed at all.
2. Why he prayed private…y?
1. Christ did not pray in regard of want, as we do, we are alwayes wanting ſomething, therefore have conſtant need of prayer, but our Saviour wanted nothing, Col. 1. 19. all fulneſs was in him, fulneſs for himſelf, and fulneſs for others; fulneſs of the Veſſel, and fulneſs of the Fountain. He indeed took our nature upon him, and ſo our wants. He did not pray, becauſe he wanted; but becauſe he would pray, therefore he would want.
2. Christ prayed in reference unto precept and command Prayer is a duty enjoyned of God unto all Chriſtians. Its a ſpecial piece of Gods worſhip. Its an Act of Adoration. Prayer gives unto God the glory of many of his Attributes, viz. of his wiſdom, Power, Providence, Omniſcience. And if we ſhould be under no wants, yet we ſhould pray. Its our ſin, that we look more at neceſſity, then at duty. Now in this reſpect Chriſt prayed. He being made man under the Law, it was neceſſary, that he ſhould ſtoop to every command thereof.
3. Chriſt prayed to honour prayer. Prayer is a very great priviledge, as well as a duty. Though there were neither neceſſity to move us, nor command to enforce us, yet the very dignity and Prerogative were enough, that duſt and aſhes ſhould be admitted into ſuch familiar acquaintance, and converſe with God, this is a great advancement. Jeſus Chriſt he honoured prayer by performing it, but we are exceedingly honoured by prayer. Chriſt therefore, to preach up the worth of this duty, was ſo frequent in it, to make us in love with it.
4. Chriſt was, Os Eccleſiae, the Mediator of the Church, our interceſſor and high Prieſt, ergo; prayer was a very principal part of his mediatorious office and work. He was no leſſe meritorious, when he lay praying in the Garden, than when he hung upon the croſſe of his paſſion. There are two parts of Chriſts Prieſtly Office; Satisfaction, Interceſſion. He began his Interceſſion on earth, he continues it ſtill in Heaven. There is great difference between his prayer in Heaven, and his prayer on Earth. That is only the prayer of interceſſion, this was alſo the prayer of ſupplication, vid. John 17. I pray for them whom thou haſt given me out of the World, &c.
5. Chriſt prayed for our Imitation, ut Magiſter noſter, that he might teach us to pray. Audis Chriſtum orantem? ſaith Auſtin, Diſce orare, Ideo Chriſtus oravit, ut doceret te crare. As the Apoſtle ſpeaks of his ſufferings, that they were for our imitation, leaving us an example that we ſhould follow his ſteps, 1 Pet. 2. 21. Hereupon, one well deſcants upon this; Orat miſerecordia? Tacet miſeria? Orat innocentia? ſilet impietas? Orat is qui non fecit peccatum? ſilet peccator? Orat medicus? ceſſat agrotus? Orat Judex ut parcat? & ſilet reus? The Phyſician prayes, to teach the Patient his duty: the Judge prayes, that he may excite the guilty and condemned ſinner, to do his duty. Mercy is upon her knees, to teach miſery to bow.—Vid. Luk. 11. 1.
6. Chriſt prayed, to ſanctifie his other performances, his preaching, his miracles. Our Saviour knew well, that its prayer which renders other things efficacious. Hence it is, that we finde prayer following his preaching, and his miracles. His preaching, ſo it is in Luk. 5. 16. Vid. verſ. 1. it was after his preaching, and ſo after his miracles; ſo in the Text, he had wrought a great work in the ſight of the people, and afterward he betakes himſelf to prayer. Our Saviour would not have, either his Sermons, or miracles to fall to the ground, ergo, he prayes, when he ordained his Diſciples, and ſent them abroad to preach the Goſpel, he ſpends a whole night in prayer beforehand, Luk. 6. 12. Our Saviour was much in publick works, Ergo, frequent in prayer. Every Creature of God is ſanctified by the word and prayer, ſaith the Apoſtle. Chriſtians miſcarry in other performances ordinarily for want of this duty. The Seed ſowen, doth not proſper for want of the watring of prayer.
2. Why Chriſt uſed private prayer.
1. Obedience to divine Command. God hath enjoyned Chriſtians, not only the publick, but the private alſo. Families apart, and their Wives apart, Zech. 12. 12, 13. Cloſer-prayer is commanded, as well as Church-prayer, Matth. 6. 6. Enter into thy Cloſet. As this made him pray, ſo it made him to pray privately, to honour private prayer.
2. Chriſt goes apart to pray, that he might not be obſerved. He hath given others a Rule, and he walks by it himſelf, Matth. 6. 6. Our Saviour did earneſtly deſpiſe and decline vain glory. He did many miracles in private, that they might not be known, and he prayes in private, that he might not be ſeen of men, that he might avoid all oſtentation, and ſhews of popular applauſe.
3. That he might not be interrupted in the duty. Our Saviour would not be diſturbed in prayer, therefore he go…s apart: ſecreſie is an advantage, in regard of diſtraction.
It is granted, that our Saviour could prevent diſtractions, when he was in the greateſt concourſe of people. As he was never ſimply alone, becauſe the Father was with him; ſo neither was he ſimply in Company: but becauſe men are not able to avoid diſturbance, when they are with others, therefore he ſets them the corporal way.
4. To ſet us an Example, that we ſhould not content our ſelves with publick prayers only, but ſhould alſo be employed in the private alſo.
Uſe of this point, is threefold.
(1) Conſolation.
(2) Inſtruction.
(3) Exhortation.
1. Its great comfort to a Chriſtian, that Chriſt prayed ſo much. All his prayers, both publick and private, are for our conſolation. He prayed not ſo much for himſelf, as for us. The Incoms of his prayers are exceeding precious, and advantagious to Chriſtians: we reap the benefit of his prayers on earth to this day, and ſo ſhall all the ſervants of God to the end of the World. Some of his prayers are recorded thoſe are full of comfort, as that in John 17. how much is there in that prayer: others are only generally related, the duty is mentioned, the words are not mentioned. Its a comfort to us.
1. When we go to pray, that our prayers ſhall be welcom to him. He that prayed ſo much on Earth for us, will gladly accept our Petitions, when they are preferred; and the rather, becauſe his work now in Heaven is to preſent our prayers to the Father. We may come boldly therefore to the Throne of Grace, Heb. 4. 16. He lives for ever to make interceſſion Heb. 7. 25.
2. It comforts us in the aſſurance of being taught, and inſtructed by him how to pray. He that was ſo oft ſpeaking to God for us on Earth, will not deny his ſpirit of prayer and ſupplication to us, when we ask it; and this the rather we may be perſwaded of, becauſe of his word of promiſe, that is gone out of his mouth. He that is the ſpirit of prayer, is the ſpirit of the Son. God hath ſent forth the ſpirit of his Son into their hearts, Gal. 4. 6. He taught his Diſciples to pray, Luk. 11. 1, 2.
3. When we are interrupted, and taken off by any hand of God from this duty of prayer; if ſickneſs, weakneſs, be upon us, &c. Tis our comfort, that Chriſt was ſo frequent in this work for us: the vertue of his prayers are in force to this very day. Tis a comfort, when we are hindred in prayer, that the Saints are a praying for us, not the Saints in Heaven, Abraham is ignorant of us, Iſa. 63. 16. How much more, that we have ſo many prayers of Chriſt on the file for us.
4. Againſt the infirmity of our prayers, its a ground of comfort, our prayers are much ſoyled, many deformities are upon them, but all the prayers Chriſt put up were pure and holy: ours are ſmoak, Chriſts were pure incenſe.
5. When we are in trouble, when the Diſciples are roſſed on the Sea, Chriſt is a praying in the Text.
2d Ʋſe, Inſtruction: teacheth, that Jeſus Chriſt was a very faithfull Mediator and High-Prieſt. He was careful of both parts of his Prieſtly Office, not only of ſatisfaction, but of Interceſſion alſo. He was the Churches Spokeſman, and he performed it faithfully for them. Not a day paſſed over his head, in which he did not make mention of his Church unto God by prayer. He did conſtantly poure out teares, breath out ſighs and prayers for them. There was not the leaſt piece of his Office in any kind, but he faithfully performed it.
3d Ʋſe. Exhortation. He that ſaith he abideth in Chriſt, ought himſelf ſo to walk, as Chriſt 1 Joh. 2. 6walked. Let us imitate his example in the duty of private prayer. I fear this duty is much neglected by Chriſtians in our dayes. I fear the publick ſwallows up the private. Shall our Maſter pray in private, and ſhall we neglect it? It is not enough, that you pray in your Families with others, or that you pray in the Church with the Congregation. Chriſt did this, and yet he had his private prayers beſides. The ſervants of God, they have been careful of this. Peter, he goes to the houſe-top to prayer, Acts 10. 9. Daniel he had his cloſet-prayers, Dan. 6. 10. it had been his manner, ſo to do. So had David Pſal. 119. 164. Iſaac, Gen. 24. 63. Jonah he had his private prayer, in the belly of the Whale. Chap. 2. 1. and generally, all the Saints, Maſters, Parents, Servants, Children, &c. every one apart, Vid. Zech. 12. 12, 13. and Matth. 6. 6. 'tis enjoyned. Governours of Families muſt do it themſelves, and perſwade and call upon their Children and Servants to do it, particularly, morning and evening.
I would urge this by ſome Motives.
Motive 1. The advantage of this ſecret prayer would be conſidered, beſides all the benefits of Prayer in general, ſecret prayer hath theſe, viz.
1. The ſoul hath more freedom and liberty than it hath in the publick; many ſins are to be confeſſed, which cannot ſo well and conveniently be done in the publick.
It is not ſo convenient, not is there ſuch opportunity of ripping up the particular ſecret ſins of the ſoul in publick, but the Cloſet gives us conveniency to unbare all, even the moſt ſecret ſins. The ſoul may without ſhame or fear, &c. diſcover all. And ſo for the wants for ſoul and body, they may more particularly and with greater freedom, be repreſented to the Lord in ſecret, then they can elſe-where. In publick, perhaps many a Petition is omitted, and many a conſeſſion which is ſuitable to our private neceſſities. The Miniſter in the Church, and the Maſter in the Family, cannot meet ſo particularly with all my neceſſities, &c. as I can do in private, &c.
2. Private prayer hath not ſo many occaſions of diſtraction and interruption as the publick. The heart can keep more cloſe to God. In publick there are many averſions, &c. many objects upon which the eye faſtens. Many noyſes after which the eare too much runs, &c. the irreverence and vain carriage of others, are a great cooling to the affections of thoſe, who are good, many times in the publick, &c. one gazing eye diſturbs many, &c. the demeanors of many is ſuch in the publick, that their preſence is occaſion of much hurt to thoſe, who would have their hearts fixed, by their whiſperings and talkings, and wandrings, &c. they take off from the fervency of others; or elſe by the gariſh attire, &c.
3. In private, the duty may be performed, when the heart is in the best frame; for the publick, its not ſo much in our power, to undertake it at this ro that inſtant, when the heart is beſt turned, and moſt elevated. It is true, we ſhould alwayes have our hearts tuned for prayer, &c. but they are not, &c. for the publick you muſt pray, when others call, &c.
4. In private prayer, we have greater advantage of learning to pray; for then we exerciſe our own gifts, &c. in publick, we only hear others, exerciſe their parts, &c. we are more paſſive in the publick, more active in the private.
Motive 2. Private Prayer is an Argument of greater love to the duty. A man may publickly pray, who hath not love to it, out of other reſpects, as to gain credit and applauſe, &c. but to perform the duty in a corner, when no eye ſees us, &c. this evidenceth more affection. And its a greater Argument of ſincerity, &c. That mans heart is not right in his publick devotion, who is very ſeldom, or never in private devotion. Ille dolet verè qui ſine teſte, &c. He prayes but hypocritically in the Church, or in the Family with others, who neglects praying alone. Vid. Matth. 6. 5, 6. An hypocrite is all for the publick, little for the private: ſincerity is equally for both. A Chriſtians heart is what it is when he is alone.
Motive 3. He that neglects private prayer, ſhall be neglected in his publick prayer. If thou wilt not call upon God in ſecret, God will not hear thee in publick. Want of private duties, is the reaſon why the heart is ſo dead under the publick, &c. Ordinarily, that man or womans heart is beſt in publick, who is moſt frequent in private. Private duties fit the heart for publick, &c. If thou wilt carefully call upon God in private, God will enable thee to ſerve him in publick.
Motive 4. Private prayer is more our own, then publick is, its perſonal ſervice. Its true, in ſome ſenſe, publick prayer is perſonal; but private and ſecret is more perſonal. A man in the publick, tenders up Confeſſions and P…titions, and Thankſgivings, by the mouth of another, but in private by his own mouth.
Motive 5. God hath uſually let out himſelf moſt to his people, when they have been alone at the Throne of Grace. There have been more meltings, and greater manifeſtations of God. Peter when he was alone on the houſe-top, ſees the viſion, &c. Acts 10. 11, 12. Daniel when he was alone a praying, hath the Angel diſparcht to him, with a Meſſage that he was greatly beloved, &c. Dan. 9. 20. 21, 22, 23. many Saints have had their aſſurance ſeal'd to them, when they have been in their Cloſets a praying, and meditating.
Motive 6. There is more of the power of godlineſs in private prayer: the publick may be only in form, the private is more in the power and life.
Let all theſe things move you to this duty.
Object. 1. I have no time to pray, I am a ſervant, &c. my time is not my own, &c. my Maſters buſineſs will not allow me.
Sol. 1. I would not ſtay with ſuch a Maſter, if thou beeſt a ſervant that canſt remove, &c.
2. 'Tis no neglecting of thy Maſters buſineſs, to take a little time daily for prayer, &c. and other duties. Its Gods, not thy Maſters.
3. Rather take time from ſleep, then omit this duty. God will, I warrant thee, bleſſe two houres ſleep better to thee, than 12. houres, if thou takeſt it from thy ſleep or recreation, to give to him.
2. Object. I cannot pray.
Sol. 1. Beg of God to teach thee, he hath promiſed his Spirit to them that ask.
2. God doth not ſo much look for eloquence, as ſincerity in prayer. Thou canſt ſmite thy breaſt, and ſay, God be merciful to me a ſinner, &c.
3. Make uſe of other helps of prayer, till thou haſt attained ability to pray.
4. Thou canſt mannage thy worldly calling, as well as another; why then canſt thou not pray as well as others? It is becauſe thou doſt not regard this, ſo well as the other.
FINIS.