The Christians Daily Practice, Title page 1 – Dedication
THE CHRISTIANS DAYLY PRACTICE; OR, A practical diſcourſe of PRAYER. By Sampſon Touneſend, Miniſter of Gods Word at Hackford in Whitwell in Norffolke.
Even and morning, and at noon will I pray, and cry aloud, and he ſhall hear my voice
Pſal. 55.17.
Imprimatur EDM. CALAMY.
LONDON, Printed by E. M. for George Calvert, at the ſigne of the Half-Moon in St. Pauls Church-yard.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL his very much honoured Friend BARNARD CHURCH, Eſq. Alderman and Magiſtrate of the Famous City of NORWICH.
Worthy Sir,
WHen I had Preacht ſeveral Sermons upon the ſubject of Prayer (I bleſſe God) they were not without ſome profit; For I was earneſtly deſired, by a Religious Gentleman of my Pariſh, to give him the Heads thereof in writing; for he told me he apprehended them a ſufficient Rule to direct him in the whole courſe of his life, as touching that Duty, and reſolved to make uſe of them for that purpoſe. And when in order to the ſatisfying of his deſires, I had drawn out the Heads of thoſe Sermons, I thought with my ſelf, if they were repreſented to publick view, they might take the ſame effect upon ſome other hearts in the reading, that they did upon his in Hearing, and (I bleſſe God in ſome meaſure) upon my own in the Preaching. And Gods glory in the good of his Church being the main end I aimed at in being Ordained unto, and entering upon the work of the Miniſtery: hoping this end may be promoted, as by my Preaching, ſo by my Writing, I have ventured upon the publication of this Treatiſe of Prayer; and although many Learned Pens have publiſhed ſeveral Treatiſes on this ſubject; and therefore it may be counted a bold preſumption in me to expreſſe my weakneſſe in writing. (For both my preaching and writing, may poſſibly be eſteemed by ſome as foolliſhneſſe (at leaſt) in compariſon of thoſe, whoſe Learning, and Eloquence of ſtyle is (many times) beyond the reach of ordinary capacities to underſtand them:) Yet am I not in the leaſt diſcouraged therefrom, ſeeing it pleaſeth God, by ſuch preaching as the world counts Fooliſhneſſe,1 Cor. 1.21. to ſave them that beleeve. Having upon the former grounds adventured to write: I have made bold to Dedicate theſe firſt fruits of my labours (in this kind) to your Worſhip; That hereby I might expreſſe my thankfulneſſe for the many favours I have received from you from time to time. And although you cannot but diſcerne my weakneſſe in the managing of ſo excellent a ſubject, yet ſuch is your goodneſſe, as you will not ſlight it, becauſe Prayer is the duty you deerly love, and daily practice: And you cannot but like any work (though but meanly managed) that may conduce to the quickning up of thoſe to the Duty that are not yet brought into love with it. Sir, I doubt not of your love, notwithſtanding this bold adventure; for your Piety, Humility, and holy Zeal mixed with Chriſtian moderation, is ſuch, as cauſeth you to love and reſpect all that love God, and reſpect his glory. But it is not my deſigne to enter upon that labyrinth of publiſhing to the world your Vertues: Only this I may aſſert concerning you, (I hope without the leaſt offence, or ſuſpicion of flattery) That your Chriſtian carriage is ſuch, as it bindeth all that love God, and know you, to love and honour you, for the Vertues that ſhine ſo in you before the ſonnes of men,Mat. 5.16. as that the ſons of God are moved (according to divine precept) to glorifie God for you,Heb. 6.12. and to deſire to Imitate you. And it is no wonder that your life is ſo exemplary; for he that prayeth well, cannot chuſe but live well: He that daily improves grace, by ſeeking daily ſupplies of grace, ſhall have grace for grace, John 1.13or grace upon grace, one grace after another, a daily increaſe of grace, until he arrive in glory.
Now I beſeech you, let me have a ſhare in your Prayers to God for me:2 Tim. 2.15. That I may approve my ſelf to God a workman that needeth not to be aſhamed, rightly dividing the word of truth; That I may fulfil my Miniſtery,Col. 4.17. that I have received in the Lord: That I may ſo live and teach, as that I may both ſave my ſelf, and them that hear me.1 Tim. 4.16. Which is the continual prayer, deſire, and endeavour of him, that doth not ceaſe to pray for you, and who is
Your humble ſervant in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Sampſon Touneſend. July 1. 1658.