The Christian Mans Calling, Treatise · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Of the Concomitants of Prayer.
SEcondly, I come now to the Concomitants of prayer; and herein I ſhall ſpeak,
1. To the matter of our petitions.
2. To the perſon that prayeth.
3. To the properties of our prayers.
1. To the matter of our prayers: Gods Word and Will muſt be the rule of our prayers, what we muſt ask of him, as well as of our practice what we muſt do for him: Subjects muſt ſet bounds to their deſires, and take heed that their petitions do not encroach upon the Prerogative Royal. Divine precepts, what God commandeth us to act; Divine promiſes (what God engageth himſelf to do for us;) and Divine propheſies (what God hath foretold ſhall come to paſs) are to be the bounds of our prayers; he wandereth to his loſs, that in his requeſts goeth beyond theſe limits. …alaam would needs ask leave of God, that he might be the Devils Chaplain to curſe Iſrael, but mark the iſſue, he hath an ironical conceſſion to go to his own deſtruction; the ſharp razour indeed of his tongue would not pierce the Iſraelites, who had armour of proof, but the ſword of the Iſraelites ſoon entred his body, and ſent his ſoul to receive its wages of that Maſter that ſet him a work. The Iſraelites on a ſudden are all in a hurry for a King, God gave them a King in his anger for their p…niſhment, rather then for their protection (and how ſoon were they ſick, like children, of that which they cryed ſo loud for) the King and people, at leaſt many of them, periſhed together. O how much better is a favourable denial, then an angry grant of ſuch prayers, but immodeſt deſires never have profitable anſwers.
And as ſome erre in the matter of their petitions, ſo others in the matter of their tha…kſgiving. We read of them, that when like Thieves they had robbed others, looked up to Heaven and bleſſed God for a good booty, that they had proſpered in their calling: Thus ſaith the Lord God, feed the flock of the ſlaughter, whoſe poſſeſſors ſlay thee, and they that ſell them ſay, Bleſſed be the Lord I am rich Zach. 11.5, 6. That ſpurious Brat the Devil begot upon their curſed hearts, they lay at Gods door, as if he were its Father.
Take heed Reader, of exceeding the limits of prayer: thoſe Beaſts which will not be kept within their bounds, are ſooneſt caught, and kild. Iſrael had their wiſh to their woful coſt, when they cryed out, Would God we had dyed in the Wilderneſs, Numb. 14.27.28, 29. Be not unwiſe, but underſtanding what the Will of the Lord is, Epheſ. 5.17. Indeed the Chriſtian may have any thing of God, if he do but in his prayer ſecure Gods honour; but he that exalteth his own will (not minding Gods) like a proud begger, will be a chuſer, and therefore he ſhall be ſent away either without an Alms, or elſe with the Serpents which he deſired, inſtead of the fiſh which he denyed. The Chriſtians Charter is wide enough, he hath no cauſe to defire its inlargement: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us, John 1.5, and 14.
2. The Petitioner muſt be a juſtified and regenerate perſon, or the prayer will never be prevalent. He muſt be a favourite at Court, that preſenteth his ſupplication with confidence of ſucceſs. Others muſt pray and may ſpeed through Chriſt, but where there is no faith, there will be much fear about the event. The precept is to all, but the promiſe is onelyonly to the beleiver: The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and deleivereth them out of all their troubles. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry, Pſa. 34.15, 17. Strangers may howl, and we take little notice what they ail, it is a venture whether we releive them or no, but if our children cry being in great diſtreſs, we haſten to their help. Our relation to God may well ſtrengthen our hope, that our deſires ſhall be heard. He that can cry Abba Father, may be confident of the ſucceſs of his ſuit, and that God will deal with him as a Son.
Faith in Chriſt is eſſential to prayer, as I ſhewed in religious duties in general (and therefore omit it here:) now an unbeleiver goeth to God without the bleſſed Saviour, and therefore may well come away without an anſwer. The Iſraelites in their prayers were ſtill to mind the Temple, either to pray in it, or towards it; which Temple was a type of Chriſt, the alone Altar upon which our prayers muſt be offered, if ever they be accepted, 2 Chron. 7.38. Dan. 6.10. Kings will not gratifie or pardon Traytors, whilſt they continue in their Treaſonable deſignes. A ſinner even while he is wooing God for mercy, is warring againſt God; when his voice is the voice of Jacob, his hands are the hands of Eſau, and therefore with what face can be expect favour; I will ſaith Paul, that men lift up holy hands, 1 Tim. 2.8. meaning in prayer. Where the hands are unholy and wicked the heart is worſe, and God cannot abide a ſtinking breath. Some write of Diacletes, that it hath many excellent vertues in it, but if it be put into the mouth of a man without life, it loſeth all. Prayer, (as I ſhewed before) hath many rare and incomparable qualities, but being in the mouth of one that is dead in ſins and treſpaſſes, it loſeth them all. When a vicious man propounded in the Roman Senate, a moſt excellent Law, they rejected the motion becauſe it was made by a bad mouth. When the face is comely, the perſon beautiful through Chriſt, then onelyonly the voyce will be pleaſant, Cant. 2. Eccleſ. 14.
When Godfrey of Beloign was demanded (in the holy War) by an Ambaſſador from the King of the Sarazens, How he became ſo ſtrong to fight, and to do ſuch exploits? He anſwered, Quia manus ſemper habui puras, Becauſe I kept my hands always as clean as I could from the filth of ſin. A pure hand in prayer is ever prevalent, through Chriſt, to conquer the ſtrongeſt Enemies: But it is a principle in nature, that God heareth not a ſinner, John 9.31. The prayers of a natural man are like Jehoſhaphats ſhips which were made to go to Tarſhiſh for gold, but were broken by the way; they come ſhort of that merchandize which is better then ſilver, and that gain which is more precious then choice gold, for which they pretended to lanch forth: But the prayers of a regenerate perſon are like Solomons Navy, which were ſent forth to Ophir, went through with their voyage, and brought from thence four hundred and twenty Talents of gold: Unſearchable are the riches which the veſſel of his prayer returneth fraught with, 1 Kings 22.48. 1 Kings 9.28.
3. The properties of our prayers; they muſt be Humble, Hearty, Fervent and Conſtant.
1. Our prayers muſt be humble: Prayer is one of our neareſt approaches to God on this ſide Heaven, in it we ſpeak to God mouth to mouth, and therefore muſt be poured out with much humility. Rebecca, though ſhe rode along on the road, mounted upon a Camel, yet when ſhe drew neer to Iſaac, ſhe lighted off her ſtately beaſt, putteth on her vail, and preſenteth herſelf to him in an humble poſture. Humility ought to be a Chriſtians c…nſtant cloathing (Be ye cloathed with humility) butit never fits him better, then when by prayer he doth ſolemnly draw near to God. We are then moſt careful to put on our beſt raiment, when we go to ſpeak with great perſons. Subjects preſent their petitions to their Soveraigns upon their knees. O come let us Worſhip and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, Pſa. 95.6. Princes muſt have ſilken words given them as the mother of Artaxerxes told one, Our words to the great God muſt be ſubmiſſive.
The ſpecial end of prayer, is to exalt God, and debaſe man; he therefore that is proud in that performance, doth wholly thwart Gods end in its inſtitution, and may be confident that God will thwart him in his petitions. When we go to God in this duty for grace and mercy, we do not go to him as thoſe that go to market to buy or relieve; but as thoſe that go to a rich mans door to beg an alms: And ſurely of all perſons beggars, who live wholly upon anothers charity, have leaſt reaſon to be proud. The proud beggar never got any thing at Gods door.
It is obſervable, how the children of God though they were never ſo rich in grace, were poor in ſpirit, and humble in language and carriage, when they approached the Lord of glory: Every one of …hem, notwithſtanding the greatneſs of their ſpiritual ſtock, ſued in forma-pauperis: Behold now I have taken upon me to ſpeak unto thee Lord, who am but duſt and aſhes, ſaith Abraham, Gen. 18.27. I am not worthy of the leaſt of all the mercies, which thou haſt ſhewed to thy ſervant, ſaith Jacob, Gen. 32.10. I am a worm, and no man, ſaith David. So fooliſh was I, and ignorant, even as a beaſt before thee, ſaith Aſaph. I am more bruitiſh then any man, I have not the underſtanding of a man, ſaith Agur. O my God, I am aſhamed, and bluſh to lift up my face to thee, for our iniquities are encreaſed over our heads, and our treſpaſſes is grown up unto the Heavens, ſaith Ezra. I am a man of unclean lips, ſaith Iſaiah. They all have learned the ſame Leſſon, as Scholars in the ſame form; they all ſpeak the ſame Language, as children of the ſame Father.
It is reported of Ariſtippus the Cynick, that he uſed to fall on the ground before Dionyſius, when he preſented a petition to him. O what poſture is low enough when we go to the infinite and incomprehenſible God in prayer. He humbleth himſelf to open his eyes upon us, well may we be humble when we open our mouthes and hearts to him, Job 14.3.
Reader, if thou wouldſt have thy prayers heard, let them be humble. God loves to walk in the low valleys: Lord thou haſt heard the deſires of the humble, thou wilt prepare their heart, and wil… bow thine ear, Pſal. 10.17. Though God behold the proud afar off, and diſdains ſo much as to open his eyes, or give them a look, yet he will be ſure to draw near to the humble, and vouchſafe to open his ears, and his very heart to them, Pſal. 138.6. Iſa. 66.…2. He that can have his face ſhine, and take no notice, is a fit perſon to go up into the Mount and converſe with God.
2. Thy prayers muſt be hearty: Thy tongue and heart muſt keep time and tune; Give ear to my prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips, Pſal. 17.1. If in prayer thou art as Ephraim, a ſilly Dove without an heart, and giveſt God onelyonly the calves of thy lips, they will be as unacceptable as Jeroboams Calves at Dan and Bethel, which provoked the Lord to anger. The Jews have this Sentence written in their Synagogues, where they meet to pray, A prayer without the heart, is like a body without a ſoul. What a deformed, loathſome ſpectacle, is a body without a ſoul? truly ſo is thy prayer without thy heart. God reſpecteth the heart in prayer above any thing; men minde the expreſſions moſt, but God mindeth the affections moſt: Let us draw night to God with a true heart; let us lift up our hearts with our hands unto God in the Heavens, Heb. 10.22. Lam. 3.41. God looketh not ſo much to the Elegancy of thy prayers, how neat they are, nor to the Geometry of thy prayers, how long they are, but to the ſincerity of thy prayers, how hearty they are. Senec. lib. 1. henefic. cap 8.Socrates made more account of poor Aeſchines, for giving himſelf to him, then of Alcibiades, and other rich Scholars, who gave him large preſents: God eſteemeth infinitely more of an heart-ſprung (though broken) prayer, then of diſſembling petitions, cloathed with, and dreſt up in the neateſt and moſt gaudy expreſſions.
The heart is the mettal of the bell, the tongue is but the clapper: When the mettal of the bell is right and good (as ſilver) ſuch will the ſound be; if the mettal of the bell be crackt, or lead, the ſound will ſoon diſcover it to a judicious ear. God can ſee the diſeaſes and ſpots of the heart upon the tongue: O it is dangerous to do, as ſome Princes with their neighbours, who ſet on foot a Treaty of peace for their own ends, but reſolve beforehand that it ſhall never be brought to any period. As Jacob ſaid to his mother, If I diſſemble, my Father will finde me out, and I ſhall meet with a curſe inſtead of a bleſſing: So ſay I to thee, if thou diſſembleſt in prayer, thy God will finde thee out, and thou wilt meet with a curſe, a blow, inſtead of a bleſſing. There is no going to God, as Jeroboams wife thought to go to the Prophet, in a diſguiſe.
Under the Law, Notandum illud eſt quod quae offeruntur in Holocauſtan interioraſunt quod exterius esi, Domino no: offertur, …tpel li, Hom. 5.the inward parts were onelyonly to be offered to God in Sacrifice: The skin belonged to the Prieſts; whence Origen inferreth, That truth in the inward parts, is that which is moſt pleaſing in a Sacrifice. Indeed others compaſs God about with lies, and therefore highly provoke him: They did flatter him with their mouth, and they lyed unto him with their tongue, for their heart was not right with him, Pſal. 78.36, 37. Hoſea 11.12. It is ſinful for thee to tell a lye to thy fellow Creature, but how abominable is it to tell a lye to the Almighty Creator? Thy prayer without thy heart will be Sacriledge, not a Sacrifice.
When the heart is Rector chori, cheif leader of the Quire, then the voice is pleaſant indeed in Gods ear. The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth, Pſa. 145.18. When the Wife giveth the Husband her heart, and defileth not the Marriage bed, he will (if wiſe) bear with many infirmities in her. When the heart in prayer is devoted to God, he is pleaſed out of his grace and goodneſs, to pardon and paſs by many imperfections in the duty; but if that bed be proſtituted to any other, he gives a divorce to the Sacrifice, and putteth it away, for he is a jealous God. Jacobs ſmall preſent could not but be acceptable to Joſeph, becauſe it was the beſt of the Land. The heart of man is but little, yet it is the beſt of man, and therefore taken kindly by God. The main enquiry at prayer is concerning the heart; As Jonadab was asked by Jehu, ſo is the Chriſtian by God, Is thy heart right as mine is? Then come up into my Chariot; then come to the Throne of grace and welcome.
Thirdly, thy prayers muſt be fervent: Prayer is a duty which conſiſteth not in words or expreſſions, but in the working of the affection; therefore it is called a crying to God, Out of the depth I have cryed to thee, Pſa. 130. a renting the heart, Joel 2.13. as if the heart were by prayer torn in peices; and a pouring out the ſoul, as if the body had been left without life, the ſoul being departed and aſcended to Heaven in holy petitions. The true Beggar is ever earneſt for ſpiritual Almes, he will not let God go without a bleſſing, Gen. 32. Paulus Aemilius, being to fight with the Macedonians, would never give over Sacrificing to his God Hercules, till he had ſome ſign of victory. The Chriſtian is more urgent with the true God, then the Heathen is with his God of clouts. When Daniel prayed, with what force were his words uttered? with what fire was his Sacrifice offered? O Lord hear, O Lord forgive, O Lord defer not for the Lords ſake. That wine is beſt which is fulleſt of theſe heavenly ſpirits; Winter fruits are ſowre and unpleſant to men, and ſo are cold petitions to God, Dan. 9.13. Reader when thou art praying for pardon, how ſhouldſt thou even poure out thy ſoul! Alaſs when thou conſidereſt if God do not pardon, I periſh eternally; if ſin be imputed, I am damned, how ſhould thy heart cry out, Have mercy upon me O God, according to thy loving kindneſs, after the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out mine iniquities; (again) Waſh me from mine iniquities, and cleanſe me from my ſin; (and again) Hide thy face from my ſins, and blot out all my iniquities; (once more) Deliver me from blood guiltineſs. O God, thou God of my ſalvation, Pſa. 51.1, 2, 11, 14. When thou art begging grace and purity, with what earneſtneſs ſhouldſt thou pray? beleiving how deſtructive ſin is to thy precious ſoul, and how offenſive to the jealous, juſt and Almighty God, and in what abſolute neceſſity thou ſtandeſt in of holineſs, without which thou canſt never ſee God. As when the Clock ſtrikes, the Wheels within move notably, we may hear them run round, ſo when thy tongue is pleading with God for remiſſion of ſins, and repentance towards God, for the Son of God, the Spirit of God, and thine everlaſting Salvation, how ſhould thine heart move? what work ſhould there be among thine affections, to enforce thoſe weighty petitions? This fervency is neceſſary to prepare thy ſoul for the mercy thou deſireſt: What men get lazily, they ſpend laviſhly; but that food which a devout woman longeth for, ſhe prizeth much, and eateth with moſt delight. When one whiſpered Demoſtenes in the ear that he was beaten, and deſired him to plead his cauſe, the Orator would not believe him, till at laſt the man cryed out. Now, ſaith he, I feel your cauſe.
It is the intenſion of the Spirit, which giveth efficacy to our petitions: It is not the length of the arm, but the ſtrength of it, which draweth the bow, ſo as to make the arrow fly faſt and far. Fervency to prayer, is as wings to the Bird, by which it mounteth up to heaven: The effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous prevaileth much, James 5.16. When prayers are drivel'd, like rhume out of a mans mouth, they fall down at his feet. The Mother will let the childe alone, if it onelyonly whimper and whine a little in the cradle, but when it crieth outright, then ſhe haſteth to take it up: This poor man cryed (was not dull and drowſie, there is his fervency) and the Lord heard him, and delivered him out of all his troubles, Pſal. 34.9. here is his prevalency. There is no getting to the Indian Mines by the cold Northerz Seas, though becauſe it is a ſhorter cut, ſome have attempted that way, but they loſt their labour. Other duties are a ſerving God, Prayer is a ſeeking God: Now they that ſeek him early ſhall finde him, Prov. 8.17. A low voice doth not cauſe a loud eccho, neither doth a lazy prayer procure a liberal anſwer. Sleepy requeſts cauſe but dreams, meer fancied returns. Where there is a cuſhion of eaſe under the knees, and a pillow of idleneſs under the elbows, there is little work to be done.
When Daniel had been fervent all day at prayer, an Angel is ſent to him at night with an anſwer. Importunity prevaileth with an unjuſt Judge, much more with a righteous and gracious God: Though God be Almighty, yet a fervent prayer (through his grace) hath held his hands: Let me alone, Exod. 32. Who holdeth the Lord? ſaith Auſtin. Moſes earneſt cry was the cord, which I may ſpeak with reverence, faſtned Gods hands.
Prayer is a ſword to wound both ſin and Satan, but fervency is the edge of it, doing the execution, Zeph. 18.2 Cor. 12. For this I beſought the Lord thrice, When a man ſtrikes his Enemies with his full ſtrength, then the wounds are made.
The lack of this fervency, is the loſs of many prayers. The lazy petition tires, before it comes half way to Heaven: indeed it is eaten up (as the cold honey of Waſps and Flies) of wandring thoughts; when fervent prayers, like honey boiling over the fire, is free from ſuch ill gueſts. An idle prayer, like a lazy beggar, wandreth and gaddeth up and down, and as a rowling ſtone, gathereth no moſs. The working of the affections in prayer, like Davids harp, allayeth thoſe Devils which would diſturb the Chriſtian in this duty. When a man is intent upon the God to whom he prayeth, and eager after the mercies for which he prayeth, though the World whiſper him in the ear, he cannot hear; though Satan jog him by the elbow, he will not heed him.
But here a caution will be ſeaſonable: The fire of thy fervency muſt be from Heaven; not ſuch ſtrange fire as Nadab and Abihu. offered to the Lord: I mean, it muſt not be the voice of nature, an earneſt cry for the enjoyment of creatures; but the voice of the Spirit, an importunate deſire for conformity to, and communion with the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. We read of thoſe that howled upon their beds for corn, and wine, and oyl, Hoſea 7.17. Many, like children, roar, are much out of quiet, diſturb others with the noiſe they make, but it is for clouts for a Babey: Who will ſhew us any good? The voice of a Saint muſt be, as of a wiſe ſon at full age, for the inheritance; Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon me.
The Petitioner herein muſt be very careful; he that rides apace, had need to be ſure that he is in the right way, or elſe the freer his horſe is, the more he wandreth to his loſs. The greater the fire is, the more watchful we muſt be that it be kept within the chimney; the more earneſt our affections are, the more we muſt minde what our petitions be: The promiſes of God muſt be the foundation of our prayers. What he promiſeth to give, I may pray to receive: Remember the word unto thy ſervant, upon which thou haſt cauſed me to hope, Pſal. 119.49. but its dangerous for the building to jet out (upon the Kings high-way) beyond the foundation; this may cauſe the houſe to fall, or be taken down. Becauſe godlineſs hath the promiſe of this life, I am bound to pray, Give me this day, my daily bread. Temporal good things muſt be part of the matter of my prayer; but becauſe God promiſeth theſe things conditionally (ſo far onelyonly as he ſeeth fit for his honor, and my comfort) therefore I muſt pray for them conditionally. The Apiſh childe that crieth and ſqueeketh for the knife, to be its own carver, and will not be ſatisfied with its Parents feeding it, deſerveth the rod; our prayers both for the matter and the manner, muſt run parallel with Gods promiſes. Prayer is a putting Gods promiſes into ſuit; but he that ſueth a Bond, muſt minde the condition in it, or the verdict will be to his coſt and damage. That which boils gently over a ſmall fire, may be of uſe to us, which if it ſhould boil haſtily, and run over, it may raiſe aſhes enough to ſpoil it ſelf. The way to loſe our requeſts for temporals, is to be as hot and haſty for them as if they were our all, even our eternals.
That incomparable patern of prayers, the Lords Prayer (which is like a Standard-meaſure in a Corporation Town, for preſent uſe, and an example for others) hath five petitions for Spirituals, and but one for Temporals.
God hath promiſed ſpiritual things abſolutely, therefore thou mayeſt deſire them abſolutely: For pardon, and the image of God, and the blood of Chriſt, and fulneſs of joy in the other World, thou mayſt be as earneſt (ſo humble and reverent) as thou wilt. And O! what a mercy is it that God, though, like a wiſe father, he deny us leave to cry for the candle, which would burn, and the thorns which would prick our fingers; yet he giveth us liberty to, nay commandeth us to beſiege and ſtorm Heaven, to follow him up and down, to cry day and night, to give him no reſt, to be inſtant, urgent, and fervent with him, that our perſons may be juſtified, our natures ſanctified, and our ſouls and bodies glorified eternally.
Fourthly, Thy prayers muſt be conſtant: Thy duty is to give thy ſelf to prayer, as a ſervant devoted to, and at the command of his noble Maſter. This fire, like that on the Altar, muſt never go out day nor night; Night and day praying exceedingly, 1 Theſſ. 3.10. Paul ſpeaks, as if his practice had been nothing but prayer; he did that ſo much, that he ſeemed to do nothing elſe. Prayer is a Saints breath, which he conſtantly draweth, Epheſ. 6.18 Praying alwayes, with all prayer and ſupplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perſeverance, and ſupplication for all Saints. Thoſe that work in Iron Mills, keep a continual fire; though they ſuffer it ſometimes to ſlack or abate, yet never to go out: A Chriſtians prayer may have an intermiſſion, but never a ceſſation.
Our bleſſed Saviour beſides his ſet times for ordinary, did pray whole nights: David was a good Husband, up early at it, mine eyes prevent the dawning of the morning, Pſa. 119.147. At night he was late at this duty, at mid-night will I riſe to give thanks to thee, Pſa. 119.62. this ſurely was his meaning, when he ſaid he ſhould dwell in the Houſe of the Lord for ever, he would be ever in the Houſe of Prayer.
Gregory writes of his Aunt Trucilla, that her Elbows were as hard as an horn, by often leaning upon a Desk when ſhe prayed.
J…chim, the Father of the Virgin Mary, uſed to ſay, that prayer was his meat and drink.
There is no duty injoyned a Chriſtian for his conſtant trade, ſo much as prayer; Pray always, pray continually, pray without ceaſing, pray with perſeverance, pray evermore. But why is all this? would God have his people do nothing elſe but pray? muſt they caſt by their callings, caſt off all care of their children, and ſhut themſelves up into ſome Cell or Cloyſter, and there be always upon their knees at prayer, as the Euchites fancied. No, I ſhall therefore give a brief deſcription of this praying without ceaſing.
1. Thy ſoul muſt be ever in a praying frame. The Souldier hath his Weapons ready, though not always in fight with his enemy. Thy heart muſt be ever in Tune, and ready upon the leaſt touch to make heavenly Muſick. The Churches lips are compared to an hony-comb, Cant. 4.11. The hony comb doth not always drop, but it is always ready to drop. The beleivers ſpirit is like fire upon the Hearth, though it do not blaze, yet its ready upon any opportunity, to be blown up into a flame.
2. No conſiderable buſineſs muſt be undertaken without prayer. Thou art Gods ſervant, and thy duty is to ask his leave in all thou doſt, Epheſ. 4.6. In all things let your requeſts be made known to God. When thou riſeſt up or lieſt down, when thou goeſt out or comeſt in, prayer muſt ſtill be with thee. Prayer is the way to prevent evil. The Worlds poiſon may be expelled with this antidote. Joh. 17.11. He that converſeth with God by prayer, dwelleth in Heaven, and to ſuch a one the earth is but a ſmall point. Prayer is both a Charm to inchant, and a ſcourge, to torment Satan. It ingageth Chriſt in the combat with the Devil, and ſo aſſureth the ſoul of conqueſt. When the Saint is fighting and like to be foild, either by the World, the Fleſh, or the Wicked one, prayer is the Letter which he ſendeth Poſt to Heaven for freſh ſupplies of the ſpirit, whereby he becometh more then a conqueror. Prayer is the way to procure good, he that will not ſpeak, muſt not expect to ſpeed. It ſanctifieth our food, raymont, ſleep, callings, and all our enjoyments to us. The Chriſtian like the Chymiſt extracteth all good things out of this one body of prayer.
3. He that prayeth conſtantly, hath ſet times every day for prayer; The Morning and Evening Sacrifice were called the continual Sacrifice. Numb. 28.4. The Chriſtian hath his ſet meals for his ſoul every day, as well as for his body. With the Mary-gold he opens himſelf in the morning, for the ſweet dews of Heavens grace and bleſſing, and he doth at night (though his occaſions hinder him in the day) like a Lover find ſome opportunity to converſe with his beloved.
He is moſt free and freſh in the morning, the top of the milk is the cream, and he doth not think his beſt too good for God. His evening fare is ſometime extraordinary, like the Jewiſh feaſts which were at Supper. The ſpiced cup is beſt at the bottom. Prayer is the key of the morning, to open the door of mercy, and prayer is the bolt at night to ſhut him up in ſafety. The Jews prayed in the Temple the third, ſixth, and ninth hour of the day; our priviledges under the Goſpel are enlarged, and I know no reaſon why our prayers ſhould be leſſened.
He that prayeth continually, doth upon all occaſions in the day time, whatever he be about, put up his ſupplication to God. He hath his ejaculations his holy Apoſtrophes, wherein he doth turn his ſpeech (at leaſt internal and inarticulate) …om man to God. This liberty is a great priviledge, and this practice turnes to wonderful profit. When Jacob was bleſſing his Sons, he takes breath with, I have waited for thy Salvation O Lord, Gen 49.14. Nehemiah when at the Kings Elbow, would not open his mouth to the King, till he had opened his heart to God. Neh. 2.6.
When Noah was curſing Cham: he had a ſhort ejaculation for a bleſſing on Japhet, God ſhall perſwade Japhet to dwell in the tents of Shem, which prayer hath been anſwered, and will be to the end of the World; We Gentiles fare the better for that prayer: Chriſt upon the Croſs darted up a ſhort ejaculatory prayer, for his Murderers, Father forgive them, for they know not what they do, and as an anſwer to it, we find ſome thouſands of them preſently converted.
Truely Reader, I would commend theſe ejaculations, as an excellent receipt for all companies, and in all conditions. If thou art a ſtranger to it, thou doſt not know the vertue of it. It is as ſome write of the herb Panaces, a univerſal remedy for all diſeaſes, a ſpecial though cheap preſervative both againſt the evil of ſin and ſuffering. This is the beſt way to avoid dangers, to overcome difficulties, and to proſper us in our lawful deſigns, Gen. 24.12.
When thou receiveſt a ſudden mercy, heareſt unexpected good news, thou mayſt preſently rear an Altar, and offer up a Sacrifice of praiſe to God. If thou art protected through grace from any tranſgreſſion, in which thou waſt falling, or afflictions of which thou waſt affraid, thou mayſt ſuddenly diſpatch a Meſſenger to Heaven with thanks, who will be more welcome there, then thou art aware of. So did a good Servant, Gen. 24.26. and a godly Souldier and governour, Iudg. 7.15. I will bleſs the Lord at all times ſaith David, his praiſe ſhall be continually in my mouth. When thou art in a ſuddain plunge, thou mayſt dart up a thought to God for counſel or protection: theſe ſhort breathings, would prepare thee for a long race.
There are indeed ſome ſeaſons for prayer, which muſt by no means be ſlighted; when the Spirit of God ſtirreth in thee, and cometh for thee, then make haſte to God. Courtiers watch for convenient ſeaſons to preſent their petitions to their Kings, and will be ſure to lay hold of ſuch ſeaſons. If the King himſelf offer any diſcourſe relating to their requeſts, then they will cloſe and ſtrike in: When the Spirit of God in a morning or evening, or in the day time, commandeth thee to go and cry to God for pardon and life (I ſpeak of regular motions, for no other come from the Spirit) then is a fit time to preſent thy requeſts, he ſendeth for thee for that end: Take heed of delaying or denying; Thou ſaidſt ſeek ye my face, my heart ſaid, thy face Lord will I ſeek. Suitors have their molliſſima tempora fandi, their ſpecial times of wooing. Heſter waited once and again for a fit time to beg her life, and the lives of her people, of the King; and when Ahaſhuerus put her upon it, gave her an opportunity, ſhe then did it, and prevailed.
Whatſoever actions thou entreſt upon, whether Civil, Natural, or Religious, let prayer be to thee, as the Baptiſt to Chriſt, the meſſenger to prepare the way before thee. Bonaventure, that Seraphical Doctor, being aſked by Aquinas, How he got ſuch Divine knowledge? pointing to a Crucifix in his ſtudy, ſaid, Ille eſt liber meus, by praying to that Crucifix: A Chriſtian by praying to God, in the name of a crucified Chriſt, may get ſaving knowledge. Be confident of this, thoſe mercies will be moſt ſavoury, which come flying to thee upon the wings of prayer. Thoſe favours are ſuſpicious, which ſteal in at a window, and come not in at the door of prayer. How ſweet was that water to Sampſon, whieh ſtreamed to him in the channel of prayer, Judges 15.19. he called the name of it En-hakkore, the well of him that prayed. Jacob ſaw God ſmiling, in Eſau's ſmooth countenance, becauſe prayer was the Sun which ſcattered and cleared that sky. When thou canſt ſay of the mercy which God giveth thee, as Hannah of Samuel, For this childe I prayed (ſaith ſhe) he is the travel of my ſoul, as well as of my body; he is the fruit of my heart, as well as of my womb; when thou muſt ſay, For this bleſſing I prayed, many a time did I weep and make ſupplication, and lo I have prevailed. Such a mercy will be a double mercy, a Samuel indeed Asked of God, and Dedicated to God.
As Jeſus Chriſt was more welcome to Mary his Mother, when ſhe and his Father had ſought him ſorrowing; ſo thoſe bleſſings, eſpecially ſpiritual, will be received with moſt joy, which were ſought with moſt ſorrow: What thou winneſt with prayer, thou wilt wear with prayer.
But it may be Reader, thou art one that art ſo far from conſtant praying, that the garment of the Atheiſt will fit thy back very well: They call not upon God, Pſal. 14.4. if ſo, bethink thy ſelf, for thou liveſt like a Beaſt, as Nebuchadnezzar did, though thou haſt the ſhape of a man: They are become brutiſh, and have not ſought the Lord, Jer. 10.21. Brutes are like Mutes: O it is a dreadful condition, to be poſſeſſed with a dumb Devil. When men once grow ſpeechleſs, its a ſign death is hard by. If that bloody Butcher can but muzzle thy mouth, and with cords hinder thy crying, expect the ſtroke of the ax: Or poſſibly that livery which Eliphaz made for Job, though it was much below him, yet will become thee, Thou reſtraineſt prayer before God, Job 15.4. The pulſe of thy ſoul faulters; thou layeſt by thy prayers, as ſome do their beſt cloathes, till they go to Church again, or for ſome Holy-day. O this is a ſad ſign that prayer, which ſhould be thy element, is thy torment. Friends that love one another, long to converſe together, and take all opportunities of ſending to, and hearing from each other: Hadſt thou any love to the bleſſed God, it would be ſo with thee. But as painfulneſs in ſpeaking, often argueth unſound inwards, ſo thy inconſtancy in praying, giveth thee cauſe of ſuſpecting thy ſpiritual unſoundneſs and inſincerity.