The Christian Completely Armed, Lecture 26
LECT. XXVI. April 3. 1650.
FIrſt, Prayer is the way to prevent Temptations from entring. It doth make the ſoul, in a manner impenetrable, Matth. 26. 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into Temptation. Satans hands are tied up by the power of Prayer ſometimes, that he cannot ſhoot an Arrow of Temptation againſt the Soul. Lead us not into temptation, Mat. 6. 13. It's a hard thing for Satan, with all his wiles, to make his fiery Darts faſten upon the Soul of a praying Chriſtian.
Secondly, Prayer is the way to pull out Satans Darts when they are faſtened: For, 1. Prayer ſets the bleſſed Trinity on work for the Souls aſſiſtance. It engageth God to take our part in the day of battel. When Moſes held up his hands, Iſrael prevailed: when he let his hands down, Amaleck prevailed, Exod. 17. 11. Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, Pſal. 50. 15. The Prayer of the Diſciples did awake Jeſus Chriſt, and ſet him awork for them, when the winds and waves did threaten ſhipwrack, and preſent ruine, Mat. 8. 24, 25, 26. When the waves and ſtorms of Temptation threaten the ruine of the Soul, Prayer awakes Chriſt, and ſets him on action for the Soules ſafety. The prayer of Paul, when he was actually engaged with Satan in a very hot Diſpute, brought him in, aſſiſtance from Heaven. I beſought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me; and he ſaid, My grace is ſufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakneſs, &c. 2 Cor. 12. 8, 9. Prayer brings in ſupply of aſſiſting Grace.
2. Prayer gives ſtrength to all the other pieces of the Chriſtian Armour. It is reſerved by the Apoſtle to the laſt place, becauſe both is an evidence we have the other, & becauſe it is ſo helpfull to all the reſt. 1. It doth keep the Girdle of Truth upon the Loyns: Holy Prayers are as the Claſps of this Girdle, which tie it together, and keep it from falling off. 2. It is that which doth tie together the Breaſt-plate of Righteouſneſs. 3. It keeps on the Shooes of the preparation of the Goſpel upon our feet. Take away the ſtrings of Prayer, and theſe ſhooes will ſoon ſlip off the feet. 4. It ſtrengthens the Shield of Faith, and keeps it from breaking. I have prayed for thee, that thy Faith do not fail. If either Chriſts prayer for us, or our prayer for our ſelves fail, the Shield of Faith will fail alſo, Jude 20. 5. It keeps Hope alive; he that is moſt frequent in prayer, will be moſt lively in hoping. 6. It puts an edge to the Sword of the Spirit: the Word of God ſtirres us up to prayer; and then Prayer makes the Word ſharp and prevalent.
3. Prayer expels thoſe Corruptions, which weaken and prejudice the Soul, and give advantage to Satan in the day of Temptation. The ſtrength of ſinne, in the ſoul, is the ſtrength of Satan; all his advantage is from our own Corruptions. Now Prayer doth help on the work of Mortification, and Sanctification; it purgeth the Conſcience, it purifieth the heart, it faſtens grace in the root, and increaſeth it in the branch, &c. Every holy Prayer pares off ſomething from that body of Death, which is Satans Armory, and ſtrong hold in us.
4. Prayer adds boldneſs and courage.
Information. 1. This lets us ſee the reaſon why Satan is ſuch an enemy to Prayer. That he uſeth all means to take off the ſervants of God from this Duty, the Scripture tells, and the experiences of all the people of God make it good. What diſtractions and diſturbances doth he ordinarily work in the hearts of men, when they are employed in this ſervice? The Saints of God never find him more buſie with them, then at ſuch a time. When Paul was going to prayer, a Spirit of Divination meets him, and labours to divert his thoughts, Act. 16. 16. A Child of God can never have an intention to wraſtle with God in Prayer, but ſome meſſenger of Satan, or other, is ready to wraſtle with him to take him off. This Text ſhews us the reaſon: He knows well, that the ſervants of God are never more ſucceſsfull againſt his Temptations; nor that he is never more defeated in his deſigns againſt them, than when they ſet their faces to ſeek God. He hath been ſo often overcome by this Holy Ordinance of God, that he is afraid of it. Hence it is, that he is ſo diligent, both to take them off from it, and to interrupt them in it. He is moſt afraid of a Child of God, when he is on his knees. This makes him ſo ſtrangely attempt to break off the Exerciſe of it.
2. This ſhewes us, that Satan muſt needs prevail very much, where Prayer is neglected. Do not wonder to ſee the Devils Throne erected ſo high in thoſe Families, and in thoſe Perſons, where Prayer and Invocation is caſt aſide. There's nothing in ſuch a ſoul, to hinder either his Reſidence, or Domination. Watch and pray, ſaith Chriſt, that ye enter not into Temptation, Mat. 26. 41. Thoſe that diſuſe Prayer, muſt neceſſarily be under the power of black Temptations. They have no defence to keep Satan out; nor have they any way to caſt him out, when he is once entred.
3. This lets us ſee the power of Holy Prayer. It's a very ſtrong thing: he that conſiders well what prayer hath wrought, cannot imagine it to be a weak thing. It hath for a time ſtopt the courſe of Nature: Sun ſtand thou still in Gibeon, and thou Moon in the Valley of Ajalon, Joſh. 10. 12, 13. It hath divided the waters of the Sea, Exod. 14. 21, 22. It hath quenched the burning flames, Numb. 11. 1, 2. It hath caſt Devils out of their poſſeſſion. The Prayer of Luther, and other ſervants of God, recovered a man out of the hands of Satan, who had made an Indenture of his ſoul to him, and ſealed it with his own bloud. The Indenture ſealed, was caſt in, into the place where they were praying. And our Saviour tells, That no Devil hath ſuch deep poſſeſſion, but by Prayer and Faſting he may be caſt out, Matth. 17. 21. In a word, Prayer hath overcome God himſelf, Gen. 32. 26. Luther was wont to ſay, There is a kind of Omnipotency in Prayer. It never yet did, it never ſhall, through God, meet with any thing too hard for it. No Journey was ever too long for it: no Mountain too high: no Waters too deep: no Burthen too heavy: no Temptation too ſtrong. It never was, it never ſhall be, finally and totally overcome by any Adverſary.
4. That a Chriſtians Victory over the Temptations of Satan doth not depend upon himſelf, but upon God alone. This is gathered from hence: When he hath dreſſed himſelf, and got his weapons into his hands, he muſt then look to his Commander in chief, and conquer by prayer. He doth not overcome by fighting, but by praying. All his preparation, all his graces, all his Armour, all his endeavour, will not carry him through the battel with ſucceſs, unleſs God ſtand by him. When he hath done all he can, Prayer muſt be his laſt refuge, that God would vanquiſh his enemies for him.
5. This is an Apologie for the people of God, who deſire to be frequent in Prayer. They have found the benefit of it, and they ſtill know the excellency of it. It's a piece of that Armour which they muſt uſe: nay, 'tis upon the matter, their whole Armour: all the reſt doth no good without it; therefore are they ſo careful to uſe it. They know the danger of Satans Aſſaults, and they know if they be not frequent and fervent in Prayer, they ſhall be overcome; therefore they willingly neglect no opportunity of performing this ſervice: they know praying Chriſtians, are the ſafeſt Chriſtians.
6. That the gift and grace of Prayer, is a marvellous great bleſſing, That God hath given his Spirit, to be a Spirit of Prayer in us; that God hath given to his people ability to pour out their hearts by prayer, with cries and groanes, that cannot be expreſſed; that Jeſus Chriſt hath given us a Rule how to pray, a pattern for Prayer: This is a ſingular mercy, that you are enabled to make uſe of this Ordinance of Prayer. There are many that know not how to pray after a right manner. If God have taught any of you how to pray, you are to acknowledge it as a marvellous mercy, and to bleſs his name.
7. How much you are indebted to them that pray for you. They ſupply you with Armour.
Exhortation. Be intreated and perſwaded in 2. Ʋſe.the Lord Jeſus Chriſt to make uſe of this piece of Armour. Pray alwayes with all Prayer and ſupplication in the Spirit, and watch thereunto with all perſeverance, and ſupplication, for all Saints. In this Exhortation, I ſhall do three things.
1. Give you ſome Motives.
2. Help you againſt the Wiles of Satan, whereby he endeavours to take you off.
3. Give you ſome helps.
I might give you many Motives: I could tell you, that it's the way to have your wants ſupplyed: It's the Key of the Treaſury of Gods bleſſings: God hath appointed this as the great Channel of conveyance of all bleſſings, Jam. 1. 5. It's the way to have every thing ſanctified to your uſe: it makes bitter things ſweet, and ſweet things more ſweet: it's that Salt which ſavours every thing, 1 Tim. 4. 5. It turns all afflictions into gold, all poyſon into phyſick, 2 Cor. 12. 8, 9. It's the way to expell inordinate cares and fears, Phil. 4. 6. He that is much in prayer, will be little in Care. It's the Nurſe of all graces: it preſerves the fear of God in their hearts, Job 15. 4. It preſerves the love of God. It nouriſheth Humility: it keeps the Conſcience clean and tender; it preſerves and maintains heavenly-mindedneſs, &c. But I ſhall onelyonly urge that which is in the Text.
It's the way to have certain victory over all Temptations. Satan may ſhatter a praying Chriſtian, but he ſhall never conquer him: He may, for a time, bring him into his Net; but God will reſcue him, and bring him out again. Whenſoever I call upon God, ſaith David, then ſhall mine enemies be put to flight, Pſal. 56. 9. Prayer, rightly managed, wil carry you through an Hoſt of Temptations. Theſe black Regiments will and muſt give way to the power of prayer, if you continue inſtant in it. You cannot get victory over the leaſt Temptation without prayer; and the greateſt Temptation ſhall be ſubdued, if you continue in this Duty. Satan is as well able to overcome God, as to overcome prayer, which hath the ſtrength of God in it.
2. To help you againſt the wiles of Satan: He hath many Devices to take off the Children of God from prayer, viz, theſe ſix things.
1. God knows what I want, though I do not pray. I cannot, by prayer, move God to beſtow any thing which he hath not intended to beſtow, &c. Ergo, What need is there of prayer? Againſt this wile of Satan, conſider theſe three things.
I. The receiving of the good things we want, is not the onelyonly end of Prayer. It is one great end, but there are many other things beſides, which ſhould move us to this Duty. We are to pray, 1. In obedience to the Command of God. It is a piece of Divine Worſhip and Adoration: it is a part of that homage which all the ſons of men owe unto God.
II. That thou mayſt enjoy Communion and Fellowſhip with God, by the uſe of this Ordinance of Prayer.
III. To acknowledge thy ſubmiſſion to God, and thy dependance upon God: Not to pray, is to caſt off that Dominion which God hath over thee: it is to deny thy reliance upon God. 'Tis to ſay, thy dependance is not upon God, but upon thy ſelf.
2. Thou canſt have no ground to believe, that any good thing ſhall be beſtowed upon thee without Prayer. Prayer, though it be not the cauſe, yet it is the condition, or the mean, of obtaining all that good which God hath promiſed unto his people vid. Ezek. 36. 37. I will yet for all this be enquired of by the houſe of Iſrael, to do it for them. No man can ſay, I ſhall have this mercy, though I do not pray.
3. 'Tis not the bare enjoying of the good we want which ſhould ſatisfie us. We ſhould alſo labour to enjoy it in mercy, to enjoy it as a bleſſing. Now 'tis an everlaſting, and moſt certain Truth, that whatſoever is not obtained by prayer, is not given in mercy, vid. 1 Tim. 4. 5. A man hath not a ſanctified right to any thing he poſſeſſeth without prayer.
2. Satan ſometimes labours to take off men from Prayer, by objecting their infirmities and weakneſſes. Thy heart is thus and thus diſtempered, &c. Againſt this, I would give you theſe two Anſwers.
1. 'Tis not the infirmities and weakneſſes of a Chriſtian which are ſeen and lamented, that can hinder the efficacy and ſucceſs of his Prayers. Sin obſtinately and avowedly continued in, will indeed cut off the ſucceſs of Prayers, and make both them, and him that makes them abominable to God, Prov. 28. 9. But infirmities which are continually reſiſted and bewailed ſhall never make the prayer to be rejected. I might give you many inſtances; as that of Jonah, A man full paſſions, &c. Yet Chap. 2. 10. God heard his Prayer. King Aſa, a man full of infirmities, impriſons the Seer, oppreſſeth the people, 2 Chron. 16. 10. yet God heard his prayer, Chap. 14. 11, 12. But I ſhall give onelyonly that one remarkable inſtance, which is recorded as a help againſt this Rock, Jam. 5. 17. Elias was a man of like paſſions, as we are, &c. Yet was heard very graciouſly: Heaven was opened, and ſhut at his prayers. Gods hearing of our prayers, doth not depend upon our Sanctification, but upon our Juſtification. He doth not hear our prayers, becauſe either we, or our prayers, are perfect; but becauſe our perſons are accepted. God doth not hear our prayers, for our prayers ſake, but for his own names ſake, and for his ſons ſake, &c.
2. This ſhould rather encourage us to the Duty. Diſcontinuance of prayer, will not remove, but increaſe our imperfections: if grace be weak, the omiſſion of prayer will make it weaker: if Corruption be ſtrong, diſuſe of prayer will make it ſtronger. The diſtempers of the heart, whatſoever they are, will not be abated, but augmented, by the omiſsion of this Duty of prayer.
3. Satan will perſwade men, perhaps, that they are not in a ſtate of Grace. 'Tis true, if they had but onelyonly infirmities, they might be encouraged to pray, &c. but they are unregenerate perſons, &c. Againſt this, I would give theſe Anſwers. Beſides this, in the general, that it is a good ſign there is ſomething of grace, when Satan perſwades men to the contrary, &c. Conſider,
1. That Prayer is a work fit for ſuch as are not converted, as well as ſuch as are converted. 'Tis the Duty of men to pray, as they are reaſonable Creatures, who owe homage to God.
2. Prayer is to be made for Converſion, as well as after Converſion. A man is not to pray onelyonly becauſe he is forgiven; but alſo, he is to pray that he may be forgiven: ſee Act. 8. 22. Repent, ſaith Peter, to Simon Magus, of this thy wickedneſs, and pray God, if (perhaps) the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee, &c.
4. Thoſe who never pray, they proſper in the world, as well as ſuch who are moſt carefull of this Duty. This is another of Satans Devices. Againſt this, conſider theſe things.
1. Outward proſperity is not the only reaſon why men ſhould pray. Yea, this, is one of all the meaneſt ends of prayer.
2. All proſperity, which is not the effect of Prayer, is indeed a Curſe, and not a bleſsing. Nothing is ſanctified, as I ſaid before, but that which comes in by prayer. If his Children be multiplyed, it is for the ſword, Job 27. 14. If his Table be richly furniſhed, it is to enſuare him: his Wealth is his Trap, &c. Whatſoever a man enjoyes, without prayer, is, in Gods Account, no better then Robbery.
3. God hath an eternity of adverſity, and miſery, after this life. They have received their Conſolations in this life, Luke 6. 24.
5. Satan takes off others, by objecting their Diſabilities. Thou wants thoſe gifts and endowments, which others have: Ergo. Againſt this, I would ſay theſe things:
1. God doth not ſo much look at the gift of Prayer, as at the Spirit of Prayer. Though it be the Duty of every perſon to labour for fit words of Prayer; yet God doth not hear prayer for the elegancy of phraſe, but for the heavenlineſs, and ſpiritualneſs, and brokenneſſe of heart of him that prayes. The publicans prayer had not much eloquence in it, God be mercifull to me a ſinner; and yet God accepted it. The Spirit of God helps our infirmities, ſaith the Apoſtle, with ſighs and groans, &c. One ſigh and groan from a broken heart, is better pleaſing to God, then all humane eloquence, if the heart be not affected.
2. Pray that thou mayſt have better gifts. God hath promiſed his Holy Spirit to them that ask, Luke 11. 13.
3. Thou doſt not pray to God as a critical obſerver of incongruous expreſſions; but to God, as a Father; Who is wel pleaſed with the prayers of his Children, becauſe they are his children.
6. Satan perhaps, will endeavour to take off Prayer, from thy long-waiting for an Anſwer. Thou haſt prayed many a time, but received no anſwer, &c. Ergo. I would againſt this Stratagem, give theſe things, by way of anſwer.
1. God hath more wayes of anſwering prayers then one. There are three remarkable inſtances in Scripture of this, vid. Acts 1. 7. 2 Cor. 12. 8, 9. Heb. 5. 7. The particular thing was not granted, and yet his prayer was heard.
2. Delayes are not denyals. God defers to hear, not becauſe he doth not love us, or delight in us, but for other ends. As,
To exerciſe of Faith, Hab. 2. 3, 4.
To exerciſe our Patience.
To ſtir up our zeal and importunity in asking.
To give us what we ask in a fitter ſeaſon, Rev. 6, 10, 11.
That is a very ſtrange expreſsion which we have in Joh. 11. 5, 6. Jeſus loved Martha, and her ſiſter, and Lazarus: and ſee what followes, v. 6. When he heard therefore that he was ſick, he abode two dayes ſtill in the ſame place where he was: A very ſtrange effect of love; A plain contradiction, if Reaſon might be Judge. Deferring to hear prayers, is not alwayes an evidence of hatred, but ſometimes an evidence of love, Calv. in locum.
3. Let this rather be a Motive to confirme, then a diſcouragement to take thee off from prayer. God will hear at laſt, that's certain: and, do not loſe ten or twenty years waiting, for want of a little patience.
4. Though God ſhould never hear, yet it were thy duty to pray.
3. To lay down ſome helps for prayer: theſe things will be of very great uſe to this purpoſe, to teach us to pray, viz.
1. Be well acquainted with the Doctrine of the Bible, that you may thereby get the perfect knowledge of the good which God hath therein promiſed unto his people.
2. Get a through and perfect ſenſe of your own wants: Senſe of want, will make the dumb Child to beg.
3. Obſerve well the prayers you hear made by them, that have the abilities of prayer.
4. Labour for the Spirit of the Lord, which is not onelyonly a Spirit of Grace, but of Supplication.
5. Get others to deſire God to teach you how to pray.
6. Be often practiſing, according to the abiiities you have. Precando diſces precari. Thus much for the Spirituall Armour.
FINIS▪
End of the text · Ralph Robinson, The Christian Completely Armed (1656)