Balm from Gilead, Sermon 7
The fifth Day. Iuly 27. Sermon 1.
COme we now to the second duty, and pray: in speaking of which, our propositions shall be as the former: that in times of pestilence the Lord calleth vponupon his people for prayer, and that prayer is a meanes of healing the land of the plague. This is coupled with humbling our selues, and is a meanes preuious and disposing to hearing, forgiuenesse, and healing the land.
1 First of all, Reason 1 it is the precept and commandement of the eternall God, in this place, and for this end, and so else where: Call vponupon me in the day of trouble: whatsoeuer day of trouble? I will deliuer thee, Psal 50.16. &c. and St. Iames, Jf any be afflicted, let him pray; neither doth he leaue it as arbitrarie; he may pray or chuse, he must: there is the necessity of a precept laid vponupon him.
2 Prayer hath the promise: particularly of healing the land of the plague, in this place: it hath the promise of all things, Math. 7.7.Aske and you shall hauehave, whatsoeuer you shall aske the Father in my name, it shall be giuen vntounto you. It hath the promise of all manner of deliuerances: Psal. 50.16.Call vponupon me in the day of trouble, whatsoeuer trouble, J will deliuer.
It hath the promise of greater matters, grace, faith, wisedom of the spirit, of saluation, whosoeuer shal call vponupon the name of the Lord, shall be saued. Now put God faithfull, true, one that cannot lye, and wee hauehave many reasons, out of which wee may conclude. If he promise it, he will doe it; if it hath the promise of all things, of this; if of all deliuerances, euen spirituall and eternall, of this: if of grace, and whats greater, of this, which is lesse, and so healing the land of the plague.
3 As the Lord hath said, hee hath done. Gods people hauehave called vponupon the Lord, and hauehave beene deliuered from the plague. 2 Sam. 24.25.Dauid about this spake vntounto the Lord in prayer, and the Lord was entreated; so the Niniuites from that which was minaced against them.
It hath had deliuerance from all troubles, I sought the Lord, and hee heard me (his seeking was by prayer) and hee deliuered mee from all my feares, Psalm. 34.
Gods people hauehave receiued grace by prayer, as Salomon, a wise and vnderstanding heart: encrease of grace: they hauehave built vp themselues in their most holy faith, praying in the holy Ghost: They hauehave had deliuerance from sinne and the diuell. I said I will confesse, and thou forgauest, Psal. 52. What kinde of deuill is there, that is not cast out by fasting and prayer?
Put God now the same immutable, vnchangeable, his eare not deafe, that he cannot heare, nor his arme shortned, that he cannot helpe, and wee may argue what he hath done, hee will to others rightly disposed, according to his promise: hee hath deliuered from the plague, such as pray he will deliuer: hee hath from all, hee will from this, others hauehave by prayer obtained greater mercies, eternall deliuerances: why shall not we the lesser? deliuerance from sinne the cause, and shall it not together take away the effect?
4 It will follow, seeing prayer is a meanes to all the meanes, that hauehave a promise of healing the land of the plague, and a blessing on them. It is a meanes of discouerie of sinne, the cause of the plague, by prayer that light which discouereth a man to himselfe, is attained: it is a meanes of humiliation, as Gods gift it descendeth, pluckt down from aboue by prayer: it is a meanes of seeking, I, seeking it selfe. It is a meanes of repentance, Conuert mee, and I shall be conuerted. It procureth all outward meanes; the Lord which by prayer giueth the end, giueth the meanes, Physitian his prescripts, its operation for good; eueryevery thing is sanctified by the word and prayer.
In a word, it is a meane to the prime and principall Physitian himselfe, a piercer of heauen, and preuailer, and therefore it is reasonable, that prayer is prescribed a meanes, of healing the land of the plague.
Some may obiect, to pray is vain, Obiect. 1 the Lord knoweth before I tell him, before I aske: Our heauenly Father knoweth, that we stand in neede of these things, Math. 6.32.
It followeth not, Answer. I must not pray: he knoweth, I neede it, and therefore may giuegive it me if he will, is the speech and thought of one that is proud and stubborne: argue not in that manner, but obay, let it not disswage or discourage thee, but moue thee rather to pray, he knoweth my necessity, I may the boldlier aske.
But he saith, Obiect. 2 before wee call he will heare, Esai. 65.24. It is a truth hee saith it, and doth it sometimes, he is so gracious: this may in like manner encourage vsus: if hee will heare before, much more when as wee seeke vntounto him in his meanes.
But wicked men who doe not, Obiect. 3 who cannot pray acceptably: hauehave deliuerance from the plague.
I answer, it is a truth: so patient and long suffering is the Lord: and yet, though some bee deliuered many thousands, are cut off by the plague; so long as they pray not, they are open to vengeance; Ier. 10. vlt.Powre out thine indignation vponupon the Heathen that know thee not, and families that call not vponupon thy name. A wicked man, not praying, cannot expect deliuerance: it is not a blessing to such a man to be deliuered, his naturall course from euill to worse: hee encreaseth sinnes, and shall heape vp sorrowes and plagues vpō his head, in time to be executed.
But for ought I see, the families that call on GOD, Obiect. 4 and persons that pray, I, Ministers themselues are taken away, &c.
It is a truth sometimes, not euer. Many that call on the name of the Lord, are thus saued. If not, it is Gods meanes, and it shall further their account. Suppose such a man taken away, the euill of the plague is taken away too: it is not to them a curse, but a blessing: Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord: whatsoeuer dead: If once the earthen house of our Tabernacle be dissolued, we hauehave a place not made with hands, eternall in the heauens. Though God heare him not to temporall, hee heareth him to temporall and eternall saluation: and if the man that calleth vponupon God be taken away, how shalt thou who neglectest that duty dreame once, thou shalt euer escape?
1 It serueth for our iust reproofe and condemnation, Vse 1 who hauehave not answered Gods call, nor vsed his means: by sin, the cause we hauehave bin called on, & might hauehave bene moued to pray: the plague, the effect, hath beene long with vsus, from 10. and 11. a weeke, it hath made gradations to some thousands: and yet alas, where hath beene our prayer, priuate prayer: the Lord is to be iustified, we to be condemned: it argueth contempt, pride, a slight conceit of Gods iudgements, as if wee were of that spirit, that wee would not be beholding to the Lord for it: we would not so much as speake, as open our lips: how iustly may the Lord slight vsus and our prayer: It is what he doth threaten, because I hauehave called, and yee hauehave refused, I hauehave stretched out mine hands, and no man will answer: it shall come to passe, when feare commeth as desolation, and destruction as a whirle winde, Pro 1.24. &c.when distresse & anguish cōmeth vponupon you, then shall yee call vponupon me, but I will not answer. When as the Lord first called me, we had litle feare: we had no desolation; our feare is now desolation, destruction is amongst vsus as a whirle winde: wee hauehave distresse, and anguish is come vponupon vsus, except the Lord bee mercifull, wee amend, and yet crie mightily: the latter part may bee as truly accomplished as was the former.
2 It sheweth vsus the great goodnesse and mercy of the Lord: Vse 2 it is mercy in our great miserie, to shew vsus meanes, and wee must acknowledge it from this text of Scripture: but that which magnifieth merciemercy indeed, is, that these are the means, humble our selues, and pray. It is a small benefit that is not worthy asking: it is an easie taske to obtaine so great a fauour for asking. It is true, it is an hard and waighty task, if it be done as it ought: eueryevery man cannot pray, and yet the mercy of God neuer the lesse; the meane of it selfe not the harder, neither doth the Lord therefore prescribe it, because wee cannot, but because his meanes is prayer.
Yea, when as he doth enioyne vsus prayer, what doth hee but desire acquaintance, familiar interchange of words: what doth he but afford his presence, requires ours, that wee giuegive vp our petitions into his owne hands, in our owne words.
Mans sinne, Adams fall cannot endure familiarity with the Lord. Adam falne, fled from God, and hid himselfe in the Garden, and would hardly be drawne to speake, or giuegive any account at all vntounto the Lord. Thus is it with all the sonnes of Adam, they call not: when GOD is thought vponupon, he is apprehended as a Iudge, as an auenger, as a Lyon, and a Beare, as a consuming fire; man cannot endure to see him, or to speake with him, he cannot grapple with him. Gods children hauehave in them that which flyeth God, according to that they are auerse, and awkeward in comming into the presence of GOD, in calling vponupon the name of God: when as they doe otherwise, it is by a supernaturall power: they hauehave powred vponupon them the spirit of supplication and prayer, it is by the spirit of adoption receiued, whereby they cry, Abba Father. Now when as man is so backward, what a merciemercy of God is it to come after vsus, to lay such a burthen as this is vponupon vsus; to desire and commaund familiarity with vsus? and when as wee will not entertaine it else, to send the pestilence amongst vsus, to enforce vsus; great men deale not so with their poore neighbours: euerie King hath not such respect vntounto his poore subiects, when as they follow them with petitions, crie, and the commaundement of the Lord, is prayer: holy and humble familiar speech, which must be acknowledged by vsus. Yea, when as he calleth vponupon vsus to pray, as a meanes against the plague: what doth hee but performe his promise of enabling vsus to exercise grace, and growe in it; according to that, I will cause them to walke in my statutes and commaundements, and to doe them: And another; Those that bee planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish, &c. they shall bring forth more fruit in their age: And in it wee are to take notice, as of the truth, so of the wisedome of the Lord; out of which by contrary meanes, hee effecteth his pleasure, causing the plague to effect that, which direct meanes doe not. Gods merciemercy, truth, wisedome, in this, are to bee considered by vsus, wee are not to take his name in vaine: but to giuegive him his ends, to come vntounto him, pray heartily, continue in prayer: and leaue not in the temporall benefit, the cure of the land, but in exercise of grace, and it groath, and giuing the Lord the glory of these his attributes, which (mee thinkes) are clearely seene in this, that the iniunction of the Lord, is prayer.
3 If prayer bee a meanes of curing a land of the plague. Vse 3 It may be vntounto vsus an vse of instruction and examination for instruction: for when wee are called vponupon to pray, wee are called vponupon for more then doth appeare at the first sight. When as a Physitian prescribeth Methridate, it is not that which may hauehave the name, but that which besides the name, hathal ingredients belonging vntounto the same, &c. Thus is it in this case, when as our heauenly Physitian prescribeth prayer for the plague: he doth not entend eueryevery prayer, but such as hath all requisite ingredients. There are some things which will hinder these, must be put a part; other that farther it, which must be looked vntounto, and prouided to the very vttermost.
That which is to be put away (besides worldly businesse and affaires, which in times of prayer, hinder and choke that worke) is our sinne: all vitious and vngodly courses, trades of sinne, especially the sinnes which procure the plague, and bring that iudgement vponupon the land: and this is a duty enioyned vntounto eueryevery man. Let eueryevery man that calleth vponupon the name of the Lord, 2 Tim. 2.19depart from iniquitie: as eueryevery man must pray, so eueryevery man that doth pray, must depart from iniquity. The reason is good, the Lord will not heare sinners, liuing in the same without repentance. Iam. 9.31.Wee be sure that the Lord heareth not sinners, the Lord hideth himselfe, as it were with a cloude, that the prayer of the wicked passeth not through. Lam. 3.44.Prayer is a sacrifice, and the sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to the Lord.Pro. 15.8.
Particularly, the sinnes spoken of, omissions, commissions must bee put away. Col. 3.Pride: God resisteth the proud; anger, wrath, and malice must be deposea: pure hands without wrath and doubting, must be lifted vp: Cruelty and vnmercifulnes, Pro. 28.9.such as stop their eares at the crie of the poore, the Lord will turne his eare from them: Neglect, contempt, slighting of the word of God: He that turneth away his eare from the Law, euen his prayer shall bee abominable. Therefore it is come to passe, that as he cryed, and you would not heare: so you shall crie, Zach 7.11 12, 13.&c. and I will not heare, saith the Lord of hoasts. It is a truth of eueryevery other particular sinne liued in without repentance; wee neede to goe no farther then my Text, wherein with prayer is conioyned, turning from their euill wayes, that is their sinnes.
1 Positiue requisites are; first, faith: a liuely faith must bee an ingredient: Hee that commeth to the Lord, must beleeue: it is the prayer of the faithfull that auaileth much, Iam. 1. The prayer of faith shall saue the sicke, Iam. 5. Let not that man that wauereth or staggereth out of vnbeliefe, thinke that he shall receiue any thing: Rom. 14. vlt.whatsoeuer is without faith, is sinne. Indeede how can a man call vponupon him, in whom he hath not beleeued?
2 Hope, whence Dauid in prayer, Let thy mercies be vponupon vsus according, and as wee hope in thee, Psalm. 37. vlt.
3 LoueLove vntounto God and man, without which, all is vnprofitable, 1. Cor. 13. If at the Altar wee remember ought that another hath against vsus, we must leaue our gift there; first be reconciled, then come and offer, Math 5. Forgiue, as I forgiue, for I forgiue: so did our Lord teach vsus to pray.
4 Righteousnesse; Psal. 34.14.The eyes of the Lord are vponupon the righteous, and his eares are open to their prayers.
Holinesse: wee must hold vp pure hands, saith the Apostle, in prayer.
Innocencie: I will wash mine hands in innocencie, and so will I compasse thine Altar, O Lord.
Godlinesse: Psal. 32.For this shall euerie man that is godlie, make his prayer vntounto thee, &c.
Humility: Psal. 10.17.Lord thou hast heard the desires of the humble.
Hunger and thirst: The Lord filleth the hungry, and the rich hee sendeth empty away.
Contrition: The sacrifice of the Lord, is a broken and a contrite heart: a broken and a contrite spirit, O Lord, thou wilt not despise.
Feruencie: The prayer of the faithfull auaileth much: but with an if, if it bee feruent. Hence Christ in his prayer, Father if it bee possible, &c. Father if it bee possible. And againe the third time: Father if it be possible. He repeateth it often: he sent forth stronge cries and teares. Hence Paul three times: and Abraham oftner beseecheth. The Niniuites preuailing, cried mightily. Iacobs prayer was a wrastling with the Lord. Moyses in his prayer would not let God alone. The voyce or resolution of a preuailer in prayer, is that to God, which the Sunamite spake to Elisha, As the Lord liueth I will not let thee goe, &c.
It must be prayer in and from the heart, as well as the mouth, with Hanah though our lips scarse moue, or moue neuer so fast, we must withall speake in our heart: Mine heart answereth, saith Dauid, thy face Lord will I seeke. The complaint of the Lord by the Prophet, Hos. 7.14.was, They hauehave not cried vntounto mee in their hearts, though they hauehave howled vponupon their beds: Therefore the Church in the Lamentations, Let vsus lift vp our hearts and hands: God is a spirit, and such as worship him, must worship him in spirit and truth. We must pray in the holy Ghost, it assisting, and enabling, actuating our heart.
Wee must looke vntounto Gods will, in a precept, a promise, or warranted example. When thou saidest seeke my face, mine heart answered, thy face Lord will I seeke. It expecteth the word from Gods mouth, and putteth it to vse. Some not remembring this, Aske they knew not what; they aske amisse to spend vponupon lust, and receiue not: and in this sence it is true, that as a man must pray with his spirit, so with his vnderstanding also, 1. Cor. 14, 15.
We must resigne our wills, absolutely good is to bee prayed for, and euill prayed against, and yet because wee cannot iudge euer rightly of good and euill for vsus, wee must resigne our selues. It is the Lord, let him doe with mee what seemeth good in his eyes. We are but beggers, and there is small reason that we should be choosers.
Adde once more, our prayer must bee put vp in the name of Christ: Whatsoeuer you aske the Father in my name, hath its limitation: He is the only Mediator, Redeemer, Aduocat, & Intercessor, in whose name, & the Altar vponupon whom our prayers must be laide, if they ascend as Incense: and therefore our Church, as the Apostle will hauehave all to bee done, closeth her prayers in and through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Againe, a preuailing prayer must hauehave perseuerance: God doth not alwayes answer at the first call, that hee may exercise grace, faith, hope, patience: Hee that beleeueth maketh not haeste; if we hope, we abide with patience, saith the Apostle: and so for the triall of grace: a counterfeit may for a fit howle vponupon his bed, crie Lord, Lord, he will not hold out: he will not pray alwayes, the Lord will giuegive vsus a sight of sinne, and sensibility of his displeasure, that wee may search and trie our wayes, and turne vntounto the Lord. The benefit begged, must bee valued when it commeth: The Lord delighteth in the prayers of his Saints, as a father in the talking of a childe. A childe is so set on his play, that he is hardly drawne to talke; therefore the father holdeth the Apple in his hand; had the child the Apple, farewell father: and right thus is it with vsus and God. It may be wee are not fitted for that blessing: it may be the Lord intendeth a greater: for all these reasons he deferring answer, will hauehave vsus to holde out in prayer. The Euangelist saith, that Christ put forth a parable, the scope of which, was, that wee should pray, and not be weary.
Last of all, when as a man doth pray, hee must vse all other meanes. Paul in a storme prayed, had a promise of safety, and yet all must abide in the ship. When the Lord will saue Lot, hee must serue his prouidence, and goe out of Sodome. Iacob wrastled with God, and preuailed, receiued a promise, to preuaile with man. Hee did so, and yet went and met Esau, brought him a present, and fell before him seauen times. Hezekiah prayeth, is heard, and yet vseth a bunch of Figges. Wee must not now looke, that the Lord prescribe the particular Physicke, or outward preseruatiue: That case was extraordinarie: his ordinarie meane is a learned and godly Physitian, auoyd vnwarrantable occasions of danger, as companie with such as are infected; vse all other meanes, euen flight it selfe, (with its cautions) otherwise we do but as he that crieth Lord, and lyeth still in the ditch: He that hath appointed the end, deliuery, appointeth meanes, prayer, and all other; our prayer, without vse of other meanes, is but a tempting of God, a prouocation of God.
We now see what must be put away, what taken vp. The particular ingredients, I hauehave spent time in gathering them, and naming them, they are all substantiall, I could not leaue as much as one out: now let vsus put this to vse.
We are this day by the commandemen of God and man, in the presence of God: One taske enioyned vsus by both, is prayer: by prayer we are to entreate the face of the Lord, to take away from vsus his heauie hand in the plague, his imminent hand of famine; his gracious protection of our Nauie and Armies, by sea and land, to remoue our sinnes which alone can hinder.
It would comfort our soules to bee perswaded, wee shall preuaile with God: it would trouble vsus not a little, that hee should still frowne vponupon vsus, and reiect our prayers. With Caine it would cast our countenances downe.
If wee will bee freed from the trouble of the one, and enioy the comforts of the other, we must pray in this manner. Examine wee our selues therefore of the particulars.
HaueHave we departed from our sins? omissions, commissions, all sinnes, the sinnes especially which cause the plague. Is there a cessation in mouth, in life, I, in our hearts from the same? is it our desire and endeuour, and hauehave wee attaining that, set our selues to call vponupon God this day?
Are we come, and doe wee vse a liuely faith, hope, charity, holinesse, righteousnesse, innocencie, and the rest of the named graces: are our prayers feruent, as those that hunger and thirst for the fauour of God? Doe wee lift vp hearts as well as hands to GOD, building vponupon his promises, with resignation to his will, and all in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ? And is there a purpose in thee to perseuere in prayer, and the vse of all other holy and wholsome meanes. Surely the promises are made to vsus, so many of vsus may waight on the Lord comfortably, for a gracious answer. Wee hauehave sowne for it, and in due time we shall reape, if we faint not.
But if it bee otherwise with vsus, that as yet wee still liue in our olde sinnes; the particulars often spoken of, which hauehave called out the plague, being the old men & womē we were before. There being no restraint of those courses, or onelyonly that which is outward, for this day and time of humiliation, our hearts and minds being as foule as euer before. If it bee so that none of those graces, or not all; (indeede where they be not all, there bee none) which are prescribed …ngredients in this duty of prayer, or the manner. (And good Lord, how many such men call vponupon God this day? no naturall man can doe it. All the imaginations of the thoughts of his heart are euill, onelyonly, and continually: they are men without faith and hope, none of them that doe good, no not one; they are naturall men, without the spirit, and so the fruits or graces of the same. They cannot bee feruent, holy fire is not kindled within them, how can it flame? Hipocrites cannot pray alwayes. How much lesse the man that is vnderunder Gods curse, in blindnesse and hardnesse of heart, habituated in sinne, accustomed to doe euill, on whom the sentence is past, for long vnfruitfulnesse vnderunder the Gospell, neuer growe fruit vponupon thee more: and there be many thousands of these knowne vntounto GOD in our congregations.)
If it bee thus with any of vsus this day, calling vponupon the name of the Lord: Bee it knowne vntounto that soule; the Lord maketh thee no promise of hearing: thy prayer is not the Lords iniunction, it hath not his ingredients: thou canst not expect a blessing on thy prayers, in regard of person, family, Parish, Citie, our Nauie or Land: thou prouokest God rather, and callest for a curse: thy prayer is but sinne; depart from iniquity; amend thy wayes: then come and pray, and expect a blessing: it is not eueryevery prayer that is preuailing, or required that which hath the fore-named ingredients, thats it which hath the promise of Gods hearing, and healing our Land.
Last of all, if prayer bee the prescript of GOD, let it moue vsus all to pray. Lam. 3.56Let eueryevery creature of this land, hauing this breath, breath it out in holy prayer vntounto the Lord. Such as hauehave not the spirit of prayer, cease not vntill you finde your vnction, and the holy spirit of prayer bee powred out vponupon you. Such as hauehave it, labour for it more and more, vse it in publique, in priuate; vse it alwayes, in all things, in all meanes, let them bee sanctified by prayer: pray, and that in this manner.
Consider it is whats commanded by God, thou that doest it not, art but a rebell. It proclaimeth thee an arch Athiest in these times: their Character is, they call not vponupon God, Psalm. 14. It sheweth (whatsoeuer thou doest pretend) thou hast neither faith, nor hope, nor louelove, nor feare of God at all: Faith will flame in prayer, will speake: hope will vse meanes; louelove will not bee hindred, fellowship, and talke; the feare of God teacheth this wisedome.
Dauid out of all these, rather then hee will omit prayer, will loose his life: it openeth a man to all Gods iudgements; to Gods indignation, the Butt of God in this respect, is the heathen, and families that call not vponupon Gods name.
Consider Prayer is an holy conference with God: that which bringeth vsus into Gods presence more specially, our heauen vponupon earth; Jn thy presence is fulnesse of ioy: Hell is especially, a banishment from Gods presence. It is a Key which vnlocketh all Gods treasures, the treasures that are in Christ; the treasures that are in God. Whatsoeuer ye aske the Father in my name he will giuegive it. An hooke which pulleth downe from heauen eueryevery good and perfect gift. It it as Incense, when Araon ran and put on Incense, the plague ceased: It is sacrifice, when Dauid offred sacrifice, the plague likewise ceased. It is as dropping of an honey combe, Caent. 4.11. As pleasing vntounto the Lord as honey to the mouth of man. As the Lord (once to Eliah of Ahab) seest thou how Ahab humbleth himselfe: So the Lord now, much more of eueryevery one of his poore humbled seruants, as the Lord of Paul, to Ananias, the Lord is now ready to say, Behold he prayeth.
Consider Prayer is in the power of eueryevery child of God, it was in the power of man; if he hath lost it, he may thanke, or rather blame himselfe: in the moment of your Christning or incision vntounto Christ by Faith, God powred out on you the spirit of supplication and prayer, ye receiued the spirit of Adoption, whereby you cry, Abba, Father. If the Lord had required a greater matter (as Naamans seruants to Naaman of the Prophet) should wee not hauehave done it? how much more when as it is, but aske and hauehave?
Consider, Prayer is a meane to all meanes, grace; its power, its vse, its growth (how much more temporall meanes) Aske and your ioy shall be full.
Consider, Prayer is a meanes a man may vse at any time, and in any place: there are times and places, we cannot hauehave other meanes. Phisition, Phisicke, neighbour, friend, no friend to go vntounto the Physition, or Phisition to come: As it is a salue for all sores, so it is euer in season: In eueryevery day of trouble, hee may vse it in the day, I, and at midnight, when man cannot goe to man, hee may goe to God, when a man cannot speake to man, hee may speak to God: when a man cannot speak with his mouth, he may speak in his heart, or by groanes and sighes in prayer.
Consider, if a man hauehave no other meanes, yet this is sufficient. Bee carefull for nothing, saith the Apostle, Phil. 4.6. that is, with a distracting, distrusting, or diuiding care; But in eueryevery thing, with supplication and prayer, and giuing of thankes, let your requests bee made knowne vntounto God. Good Lord what straights are wee in at this time? how many things trouble vsus? wiues, and children, and seruans, kindred, neighbours, friends, cares of the Citie, cares of the whole Land, wee are at our wits ende, and what shall wee doe? Be carefull for nothing. If thou canst but pray.
Consider, it is not a vaine thing to call vponupon the Lord, (as those in Malachi… 3.14. there reproued for it.) There is no seruant of God that performeth any seruice in vaine, the promise is, I will deliuer. Psal. 91.15.As soone as he shall call vponupon me J will heare him, I will be with him in trouble, and deliuer him. Hitherunto yee hauehave asked nothing, saith Christ vntounto his Disciples, aske, Iohn 16.4. He is readier to giuegive vsus then wee are to aske him; yea, the promise is, Isai 65.24.Before they shall call I will answer, and whilst they are speaking, I will heare. What can incourage a man more then such gracious profers?
And as he hath said, he hath done, I, saith Dauid, called vponupon the Lord, and he heard me, Psalm. 34.5. Whilst Daniel prayed, Incline thine eare, and heare, hearken and doe, differre not, Whilst I was speaking and praying, Dan. 9.18. 19, 20, 21.confessing mine owne sinnes, and the sinnes of the people. Whilst I was speaking in prayer, Gen. 24.15Behold the man Gabriel. When El…aser prayed, before he had done speaking, behold Rebecca. Genes 19. You shall finde Abraham, the Father of the faithfull, wrastling with GOD: hee putteth vp one request, and the Lord graunteth it; Sixe times he prayeth, and the the Lord graunteth. Abraham first leaueth asking, before the Lord leaueth graunting: I will aske but this once.
Being compassed about with such an Armie of motiues, let vsus take vp this duty; put God in minde of his attributes: grace, merciemercy, goodnesse, truth; of his oath, of his promises, of his performances with others; of his sparing of Sodome and Gomorrha for tenne righteous mens sakes. Vrge him with his dealings with others, with our selues: Thou hast beene mine helpe, Psal. 27.9.leaue mee not, nor forsake me: Lam. 3.55.56.Thou hast heard my voice, hide not thine eare at my breathing, at my crie. Thou hast heard the desire of the humble, Psalm 10.17. Put him in minde of that relation which is betweene vsus, by that title Father, a preuailing argument; our Lord that taught vsus to pray in that forme, Our Father, &c. knew it. Against all infirmities, remember Elias subiect to infirmities, praying hard: thou hast to deale with God, a Father who will bea…e with, and couer in Christ the imperfections of a submissiue calling childe. Vrge Christ, his name, his merits, his death, his resurrection, and ascention, and exaltation at the right hand of God, to giuegive remission of sinnes. Perseuere vntill the Lord heareth: though Ioseph for a time seem harsh, and deale toughly with his brethren, as spies; secretly hee will weepe, and open himselfe vntounto them at length: though God saith vntounto thee nothing, (as Christ to the woman in the Gospell, checke and taunt thee, maketh thee to possesse thy sinnes, writeth bitter things against thee, calleth thee dogge. Beare thou thine owne shame, accept of it; bee more and more vilde, and humble in thine owne eyes; and yet cease not to pray: Vrge (as she,) dogges gather crummes; at length (as shee had) thou shalt hauehave an answer. O woman, great is thy faith, be it vntounto thee as thou desirest. The earnest cry of a distressed importunate man, wil moue an vnrighteous Iudge, though he feare not God, nor care for man: And shall not God heare his elect, that crie day and night vntounto him? I tell you hee will, and that speedily. Amen Lord, through Iesus Christ.