A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 243 (Question 98 cont.)
SERMON CCXLIII.
WE have conſidered the Kinds of Prayer; which are more directly pointed at in this Anſwer: And it will not be impertinent here to ſubjoyn ſome more obſervable diſtinctions of Prayer; which will be helpful …o us rightly to attend our Duty in regard of the ſeveral Circumſtances that attend it.
I. PRAYER is either Ejaculatory, or more Continued. The reaſon of this diſtinction is becauſe Prayer is of conſtant uſe to maintain Communion with God: And there are very frequent occaſions for our ſending our Deſires to Heaven, beſides our ſet and ſeperate attendance on this Duty.
1. EJACULATORY Prayer is a ſhort & ſudden lifting up our Hearts to Heaven; while we are engaged in other Duties. Many Inſtances of this we have in the Word of God; particularly Gen. 49.18. Pſal. 84.3. This doth not call us off from the buſineſs that we are e…g…ged …, to lay it aſide, and ſeperate our ſelves to this duty; not need it at all to hinder us in to our Duty by giving us interruption, but will help us in it to do it with a more ſp…itual frame; it is but a pertinent and pathetical parentheſis in our work; which will make no baulk in it, but advantage us in proſe…ation of it. And there are uncountable occaſions for this in a day: and the more frequent we are in it, the greater teſtimony we have that we are ſpiritual. And it will he a go…d evidence that we are ſenſible of our dependance on God for all. Thus in our ordina…y ſec…lar Employments; when we find difficulty in them, to lift up our Hearts to God to help us: When we find our Hearts two much engaged in the World, to ask him to mortify our fleſhly aff…ctions; when we are eagerly ſet upon the Succeſs, to beg that we may be ſubdued to the good Will of God; when we are at a loſs in our Work, to Pray that he will direct us; when we are diſcouraged in our Buſineſs, to ask him to give us encouragement when we find our work to ſucceed, to give … the praiſe of it. Thus alſo in our Religious D…es; when we are hearing the Word, and we find our Hearts dead, or wandring or ready to entertain Prejudices at the Word, or at the I…ſtrument, to lift up a groan to God for rel…eſ againſt theſe; and when we find the W…d to touch our Hearts, to acknowledge his G…ace in it, and to Pray that he would fix this on us and give it an abiding impreſſion; and in reſpect of others, if we meet them, to P…ay that God will bleſs them; if they are Sick, to ask God's Mercy for them both for Soul and Body; it we hear of their Troubles, to deſire of God to be with them. Theſe and many more of ſuch things belong to this; and are the right poſtures of a gracious Soul: and it is the way to have Commu…ion with God in all, and to enjoy great inward tranquility of mind, and to dwell in Heaven whilſt upon Earth; and thus alſo ſhall we be always in a readineſs for our more ſolemn Addreſſes to God. And would we thus do, we might maintain his frame, Pſal. 16.8. I have ſet the Lord always before me. And maintain reverend and delightful thoughts of him.
2. MORE Continued Prayer is when too ſet our ſelves to pour out our Hearts before God after a ſolemn manner. We are not to ſatisfy our ſelves in Ejaculatory Prayer; but God hath required of us that beſides the frequent lifting up of our Hearts to him in a ſigh, a groan, a petition, we take our opportunities to ſeperate our ſelves to this duty, and laying aſide other occaſions, do engage in it as a Buſineſs without interruption by other things. Prayer is compared to wreſtling, with God; and we are to enter the liſts with him, with an holy purpoſe not to let him go till we have gotten the bleſſing of him; as Jacob. Hoſ 12.3, 4. It is our duty to pour out our Hearts before God, to ſpread our caſe before him; Pſal. 62.8. And we are to perſevere in Praying, Eph. 6.18. We have a great many wants, and we ought to ſpread them before him. Not as if he ſo readed to be informed, for he knows our needs better than we do, but he would have us ſ…ſible of them, and lay open this ſenſe before him, and therein teſtify our …tire dependance upon him. And this is the way to bring our ſelves under the more potent Obligations of Gratitude, when he receives our Prayers, and grants us our Requests. Such Prayers as theſe have the Godly uſed at all times; and though we can merit nothing by them, yet we do therein take a proper way to maintain Communion with God. And in theſe Prayers we are to offer our diſtinct Petitions, and make uſe of Arguings and Pleadings with God, becauſe this is the way in which God hath e…couraged us to hope for his Mercy. He hath for that reaſon given us direction about it, H…ſ … begin. Not that we are to think that by our l…ng Prayers, and multipl…cation of words, we ſhall command the Bleſſing: Nay, we are enjoyned. Eccl. 5.2. Be not raſh with thy …th, and let not thine heart he haſty to utter anything before God. And our Saviour gives that caution, … 6.7. But we ought to inſiſt, ſo as to get … Affections raiſed, and our Hearts warm; and not to c…ntent our ſelves with a few in…i…d Expreſſions. And doubtleſs we ought to … longer or ſhor…er in this Duty, according as the occaſion is; which may much vary: And if it be asked how often we are thus to ſequeſter our ſelves to this Duty? it muſt be anſwered; that there are is no limitation ſet in the Word of God; and there may be incident occaſions which may call us off to Prayer oftentimes beſides what is ordinary: And the Word of God ſeems to intimate, that we ought not to omit this Morning and E…ing, at leaſt: And God appointed the Morning and Evening-Sacrifice, which were times of Prayer. A…d we find David reſolving, Pſal. 55 17. Evening and morning, and at noon will I pray, and cry …ul. And 119 164. ſeven times a day … praiſe thee. As … ſet and ſtated H…urs for this there is no Religion in it, making one m…re holy that another… but there is Chriſtia… Prudence, is having Seaſons for this Duty to be attended ſo conſtantly as may be, leſt by excuſes and delay, we ſhould forget our Duty, and loſe the Opportu…ity: N…t is it neceſſary that in all our ſet Prayers we ſhould inſiſt upon all things that afford Matter for Prayer; but there may many times be particular Caſes which call for our preſent intenſeneſs; for ſometimes there may be ſuch things as will take up the preſent Opportunity; inſtances whereof we have in the Word of God. But if Chriſtians think that a ſuitable time ſpent in Prayer, is ſo much loſt from their Wordly Concerts, and will thereupon omit o… curtail the Duty, they wofully impoſe on themſelves; and it will be fou…d that that is redeemed time, which is employed to obtain God to be with us in all that we are concerned in.
II. ANOTHER diſtinction of Prayer is, that which is either Solitary or Social. It is either done by a Perſon alone, between God and his own Soul; or by a Company joining together in offering up of their Petitions to God. And for both of theſe we have Precept and Pattern in Scripture: and there are moral Reaſons for them both.
1. THERE is Solitary Prayer, which is to be practiſed by the People of God. And this is not to be neglected upon a pretence of attending upon Publick Worſhip, or that which is Social. A Chriſtian is to ſeparate himſelf, and get alone from all Company, and to be as ſecret in it as may be. And for this we have our Saviour's direction. Mat. 6.5, 6. It is therefore very proper, that we have our Places o… Retirement, where we may get alone, and pour out our requeſts before God, where there may be no witneſs but God and our own Souls. And ſuch Prayer if rightly performed, carries the greateſt evidence of our ſincerity; and beſpeaks our real ſenſe of our wants, and hath the leaſt hazard of hypocriſy: though we are not to reſt in this; for if we look not to our Hearts we may be formal and hypocritical in this too. Now there is great reaſon why this Prayer ſhould be duly and conſtantly attended; for every Perſon hath his particular wants which he is to repreſent unto God; and many of theſe are ſuch as it is not convenient that others be acquainted withal; but are proper to be repreſented to God, who knows all. There are the Si…s to be confeſſed to God, which it is not m…et that others ſhould be acquainted withal; the Diſtreſſes to be bewailed, and help to be ſought for in regard of them, which others are and muſt be ſtrangers to: And here a Child of God may uſe the more freedom of Spirit. Others poſſibly would inſult over us, & reproach us; and God knows how to pity us; & the more open we are with him, the more ready he will be to entertain us kindly. For we are told, Pſal. 103 13. Like as a father pitieth his children: ſo the Lord pitieth them that …ear him. And indeed, never hath a Believer more enlarged Communion with God, than when in his ſolitary Retirements he draws near unto God, and opens his whole Soul unto him. How often when he goes into his Cloſet …ad, doth he come out again glad; being abundantly refreſhed with thoſe cloſe Embraces which he receives from him whom his Soul loves? And that Soul that hath had experience of the ſweetneſs of this, will count it his happineſs to enjoy ſuch a Priviledge, and will not eaſily neglect it. And tho' we are not upon every p…ng, to run from our buſineſs to this; yet it is very proper for us, to prepare for it, and to lay by matter in our daily Obſervations, to bring before God, when we come to addreſs him in Secret. It is alſo very proper for Chriſtians in their Secret Applications, to avoid all that will have a ſavour in it of …ſtentation and hypocriſy. Doubtleſs the loud ſpeaking in this Praying, ſo as to tell all that are near to us, or paſs by, what we are doing, is little better than to ſound a Trumpet.
2. THERE is Social Prayer, which the People of God are concerned to attend. Which is in the joyning of more than one together in offering up their Deſires to God: And the reaſon of it is becauſe Man is made a Sociable Creature; and there are the common Concerns of Chriſtians, which invite them to carry their requeſts to God, and join in their Praying to him. We may have more particular occaſion to Diſcourſe of this matter under the Preface of the Lord's Prayer. I ſhall therefore here only obſerve; that there is a frequent diſtinction of Social Prayer into that which is Oeconomical, or Congregational; or that which is more Private, and more Publick: For each whereof we have Precept & Example in the Word of God.
1. OECONOMICAL Prayer is that which is performed in Private Families of Chriſtians. We obſerved that Man is made for Society: Solitarineſs, or living alone being a treſpaſs againſt Humane Nature. Hence there are the ſeveral Families of Chriſtians, who live and converſe together; and it is their Duty to live together as Chriſtians, which they cannot do unleſs Prayer be uph…ld in their Society. And here we may obſerve,
(1.) IN general, that in Social Prayer, there is one that is to be the Mo…th of the reſt, in expreſſing to God their wants, and putting up Petitions in their Name: And all the reſt are to join he…tily in theſe Requeſts, and ſend up their deſires with them unto God; for if all ſhould ſpeak together, it would bring confuſion and diſorder into the Duty; whereas God is a God of Order, and not of Confuſion. They therefore who will have all at once to ſpeak in Prayer, do certainly diſturb the Duty, and render it vain and unedifying.
(2.) THIS Duty doth more peculiarly belong to the Head of the Family: For God hath committed to ſuch the Charge and Care, both of the Bodies and Souls of thoſe that belong to their Society, they are to Pray for them, and Pray with them; no… as if they may not make Uſe of the Gifts of ſuch who may occaſionally be caſt into their Families; but it belongs to them to ſee that this Worſhip of God be upheld; and in the Time when the Church was in Families, the Maſter of it was it the room of a Prieſt to it, to offer Sacrifices to God.
(3.) THE…E are the common Concerns of a Family, in which they have to do with God as ſuch. In every Relation there are Relative Duties, which thoſe have to diſcharge one to another, and they muſt go to God for Grace and help to perform them; there are Family Bleſſings to be ſought, and Family Afflictions to be deprecated; there are Family Sins to be Confeſſed and Bewailed, and Family Benefits that are to be obſerved, and God to be Thanked and Praiſed for: Hence there is Family Religion to be upheld, and Communion with God to be uph…ld in it, and that as a Society which is devoted to God's Service, and Family Governours are carefully to ſeek their own Salvation, and the Salvation of all that are under their Care; and all theſe are potent Arguments to excite and oblige them to this as a neceſſary Duty: And hence we have his Reſolution, J…h. 24.15. As for me and my houſe, we will ſerve the Lord.
(4.) HENCE it is the Duty of all that are Members in a Family to attend Carefully and Conſcientiouſly on the ſeaſons of Religious Worſhip in it. Tho'… there be no Time in the Day more Holy than other, yet it is convenient that Families have their ordinary ſtated Times of Worſhip both for the Morning and the Evening, that ſo every Member of it may not be be … loſs about it; and tho' unforeſeen Providence may ſometimes prevent it, yet in the ordinary Courſe, both Heads of Families and all that are Members of them, ought to obſerve them, elſe there will be Diſturbance and Confuſion; not ought any to exempt themſelves from this. Duty careleſly, leaſt they bring the diſpleaſure of God upon themſelves: And we are ſure that Wrath is threatned againſt ſuch Families as do not call upon the Name of God. Jer. 10.25.
2. CONGREGATIONAL Prayer is that which is to be offered to God in a Publick Aſſembly. The diſtinction which is between Secret, Private and Publick is very obſervable. And tho' both the latter conſiſt of a Community, yet there are more Private and more Publick Societies, and not only is Prayer to be uſed in the former, but in the latter too. Theſe Publick Societies are either Civil or Sacred; and they Convene together upon Publick Occaſions, in which the Community are concern'd; and as they depend upon God for his Direction and Bleſſing, ſo they ought to offer up their joynt Requeſts to God for it, and may well expect to be croſſed in their Buſineſs, if they endeavour not to have God with them. But that which I peculiarly here deſign is Eccleſiaſtical; or Prayers which are to be made in Church Aſſemblies; which, as they are appointed by God, ſo he hath Inſtituted a Worſhip to be attended in them by his People; and one of theſe Inſtitutions his, That there be Prayers offered up to him, in and with ſuch Congregations: and tho' Prayer it ſelf be a part of Natural Worſhip, yet offering it up to God in and with the Aſſemblies of the Saints, is of Inſtitution; and for this reaſon God's Houſe is called, An Houſe of Prayer; Not that there are no other Acts of Worſhip there to be attended, but becauſe this is never to be Omitted. As God hath appointed the Aſſemblings of his People to Worſhip him, as well under the Days of the Goſpel, as before under the Law; ſo tho' the ancient Ceremonies are ceaſed, to give place to a more Spiritual manner of Worſhip in the times of the New-Teſtament; yet the moral Duties of Worſhip, being perpetual, do abide and will ſo do till the time comes when Ordinances will be of no uſe, and that will be to the end of Time: And that Prayer is one of theſe Duties, hath already been obſerved and proved. Now that Publick, as well as Secret Prayers are to be attended by God's People, will be evident,
(1.) FROM Chriſt's Precept, and the Example of Chriſtians in Goſpel Times. That theſe is Precept for this, not only under the Old, but alſo the New Teſtament, is evident, in the Pattern of Prayer given by our Saviour; this is plainly intimated, in that he bids us to Pray, Our Father, which tells us that Social Prayer is a Duty, as may be further obſerved, when we come to take that Prayer into Confideration: This alſo is implied in that general Precept, in 1 Tim. 2.8. I will therefore that men pray every where. And that of our Saviour, Matth. 18.29. Again I ſay unto you, that if two of you ſhall agree on earth, as touching any thing that they ſhall ask, it ſhall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. And for this reaſon the places where Chriſ… ans meet together to Worſhip God, were called Oratories, or praying Places, Acts 16.13. And as for Examples, we ſind that Chriſt himſelf often Prayed with Publick Aſſemblies, in which he ſet an Example for his People to imitate him; and this was the practice of the Apoſtle; and we have that inſtance in, Acts 4.24. They …ſt up their voice to God with one accord.
(2.) THERE are the common Concerns of ſuch a Society to be offered up unto God. And it is moſt proper that they ſhould do it joyntly. Many things might here be inſtanced, but I only offer, that they are concerned as a Society to Glorify God; and that they may ſo do, God is to be implored; all ſcandalous Sins at any time breaking out among them, are a reproach to the Society, and therefore they are to deprecate them, and to ſeek direction and help from God, rightly to bear witneſs againſt ſuch Scandal, and ſucceed their endeavours therein. There are other Ordinances, which are appointed for the Edification of the People of God; and the Preſence of God with them is neceſſary that they may obtain this Deſign; the Preaching of the Word, the Adminiſtration of the Sacraments depend on his Aſſiſtance and Bleſſing, who only can give the increaſe: It is of him to give Aſſiſtance to the Diſpenſers in their work, elſe it will not attain; and it is of him to help the Partakers in the Word & Sacraments to profit by them; and for theſe alſo he is to be ſought. There are the Troubles which come on the Church in regard of their Profeſſion; and doubtleſs all are to joyn in their Prayers to God, that he will Sanctify them, and remove his hand from them; for God hath ſaid, Ezek. …6.37. I will yet for this be enquired of by the houſe of Iſrael, to do it for them.
(3.) GOD hath declared how acceptable the Joynt Prayers of his People are to him, and how prevalant they are. This is not from any w…rth in them, but becauſe herein the Declarative Glory of God is the more acknowledged before Men. It is God's Honour to have his Throne of Grace beſieged with a great many Petitioners at once; and he hath encouraged this by telling us, that if … do thus agree, it will be accepted, Matth. 18.19. God Loves his Children, and delights to hear from them; & the more of them that ly proſtrate together at his feet, the more united is their force in beſieging Heaven: We have therefore ſuch an Encouragement offered, Jam. 5.14. Is any ſick among you? let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him. And we have that encouragement offered, 2 Chron. 7.14. If my people which are called by my name, ſhall humble themſelves, and pray, and ſeek my face, and turn from their wicked ways: then will …ear from heaven, and will forgive their ſin, and will heal their land. Now concerning theſe publick Prayers, there are theſe Rules to be obſerved, 1. THAT it is the proper work of thoſe whom God hath called to the Service of the Miniſtry, to go before the People in offering up theſe Prayers to God. We before obſerved, that there muſt be one that is to be the Mouth of the Aſſembly in this work, elſe there would be Confuſion: Now this moſt properly belongs to the Miniſtry, who are to ſtand between God and his People; and as they are God's Mouth to them in Preaching his Word, ſo they are to be the Mouth of the Aſſembly in bringing of their Requeſts to God. As it belongs to Heads of Families in Family Prayer, ſo to the Leaders in the Church, in Publick Prayers, to whom God hath given the Charge publickly to Adminiſter his holy things; and therefore ordinarily none but ſuch as bear ſuch an Office, or are Probationers to it, are to do this. 2. THAT theſe Prayers must be offered in a known Language. And the reaſon is plain, becauſe they are to repreſent the Deſires of God's People whoſe hearts are to go along with them; which how ſhall they do, if they do not underſtand the Requeſts that are offered up to God in their Name: They are to ſet their Amen to ſuch Prayers, and that not as Brutes, but as Men who know what they do. Th… therefore the Apoſtle inſiſts on as a thing neceſſary for Edification, 2 Cor. 14.14, 15, 16. If a Miniſter or a Chriſtian, Pray in a Language which he underſtands not himſelf, he cannot Pray in Faith; and if he does, yet if he Prays with thoſe that do not, he is to them but …s a Barbarian, Ver. 11. which ſhews the Vanity of thoſe, who enjoyn Men to Pray in a Language to them ſtrange, in which their Hearts cannot go with their Tongues. 3 THERE is nothing to be offered in theſe Prayers, but what the whole Congregation may or ought to put their Amen to. And the reaſon of this is, becauſe that in ſuch Requeſts there's a Mental, if not a Vocal Amen to be uſed, becauſe all are joyned together to offer up joynt Prayers to God; and therefore Care is to be uſed that nothing be laid as a ſtumbling-block in their way, but only ſuch Petitions as are agreable to the Will of God; ſo that if any are prejudiced it muſt evidently be their own fault; which therefore the greateſt Care ought to be uſed to prevent. Prayers ſhould be offered with one heart; and therefore the Mind of God ought to be well conſidered by ſuch as preſent them. 4. THAT it is the Duty of thoſe Individually who joyn in this Duty, to give diligent Attendance to the Prayers which are ſo put up. It is not enough that the Speaker be intent & deliberate in his preſenting the Caſe of God's People to him: But becauſe Prayer is in the name of all that are preſent, they ought to have their Hearts fixed, and their Judgments exerciſed, that ſo they may not offer the Sacrifice of Fools; and therefore ought to attend the Duty with equal Solemnity with the other: And to have their Eyes wandering, and their Minds roving, is a profanation of the Ordinance. We ought therefore whenſoever we go to the Houſe of God, to remember that we are to approach the preſence of Him, who ſearcheth the hearts of Men; and if we offer up mock-Service to him, we may expect to be anſwered accordingly; and have our Prayers returned upon us, and thrown in our Faces as dung.